Movers & Shakers

California Department of Managed Health Care: The Department picked Braulio Montesino as its new General Counsel.

Covington & Burling (Washington, DC): Gerald Masoudi has joined Covington & Burling as a partner and co-chair of the food and drug practice group in Washington. He will focus on regulatory and litigation matters. Previously, Masoudi was chief counsel of the Food and Drug Administration. He earned his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.

Heather Podesta + Partners (Washington, DC): Mary Beth Stanton has moved to the Washington government relations firm Heather Podesta + Partners, where she will represent clients in the financial services, health care and education industries. Stanton had been a managing director for Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal's public law and policy strategies group. She earned her master's degree in history and public policy from George Washington University.

Akerman Senterfitt (Denver; Tallahassee, FL; Washington, DC): The firm has added two shareholders and two of counsel to its health care team, plus a consultant. Shareholders Bill Crenshaw and Ralph Caccia have joined the firm's Washington office, while of counsel Anne McGihon has joined the Denver office. Of counsel Julie Gallagher has joined the Tallahassee, FL, office. The consultant, Thomas Donnelly, will operate out of the Washington office. The firm's health care and government affairs attorneys specialize in representing hospitals, physicians and managed care providers in matters ranging from federal and state lobbying to litigation and health care regulations.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius (Washington, DC): Seven Washington-based lawyers have moved from Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal to the FDA/health care regulation practice at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. J. Kelly Barnes advises clients on issues arising under Medicare, Medicaid and health care fraud and abuse laws. Barnes, an associate, earned her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center. Kashmira Makwana represents health care providers on regulatory, transactional and compliance issues. An associate, she earned her J.D. from George Washington University Law School. Elizabeth McCubrey focuses on health care fraud and abuse investigations, regulatory compliance and clinical research. McCubrey, a partner, earned her J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law. Scott Memmott focuses on health care fraud and abuse and corporate compliance, including litigation, investigations and audits. Memmott, a partner, had been national vice chairman of Sonnenschein's health care practice group. He earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. Sun Park concentrates on health care regulatory matters, including developing, implementing and evaluating compliance programs. Park, an associate, earned her J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. Katie Pawlitz represents health care providers and manufacturers on regulatory issues under Medicare, Medicaid and health care fraud and abuse laws. An associate, she earned her J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law. Tisha Schestopol defends clients under investigation for health care fraud and abuse arising under federal and state laws and regulations. Schestopol, an associate, earned her J.D. from George Washington University Law School.

California Department of Managed Health Care: The Department picked Braulio Montesino as its new General Counsel.

Covington & Burling (Washington, DC): Gerald Masoudi has joined Covington & Burling as a partner and co-chair of the food and drug practice group in Washington. He will focus on regulatory and litigation matters. Previously, Masoudi was chief counsel of the Food and Drug Administration. He earned his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.

Heather Podesta + Partners (Washington, DC): Mary Beth Stanton has moved to the Washington government relations firm Heather Podesta + Partners, where she will represent clients in the financial services, health care and education industries. Stanton had been a managing director for Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal's public law and policy strategies group. She earned her master's degree in history and public policy from George Washington University.

Akerman Senterfitt (Denver; Tallahassee, FL; Washington, DC): The firm has added two shareholders and two of counsel to its health care team, plus a consultant. Shareholders Bill Crenshaw and Ralph Caccia have joined the firm's Washington office, while of counsel Anne McGihon has joined the Denver office. Of counsel Julie Gallagher has joined the Tallahassee, FL, office. The consultant, Thomas Donnelly, will operate out of the Washington office. The firm's health care and government affairs attorneys specialize in representing hospitals, physicians and managed care providers in matters ranging from federal and state lobbying to litigation and health care regulations.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius (Washington, DC): Seven Washington-based lawyers have moved from Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal to the FDA/health care regulation practice at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. J. Kelly Barnes advises clients on issues arising under Medicare, Medicaid and health care fraud and abuse laws. Barnes, an associate, earned her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center. Kashmira Makwana represents health care providers on regulatory, transactional and compliance issues. An associate, she earned her J.D. from George Washington University Law School. Elizabeth McCubrey focuses on health care fraud and abuse investigations, regulatory compliance and clinical research. McCubrey, a partner, earned her J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law. Scott Memmott focuses on health care fraud and abuse and corporate compliance, including litigation, investigations and audits. Memmott, a partner, had been national vice chairman of Sonnenschein's health care practice group. He earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. Sun Park concentrates on health care regulatory matters, including developing, implementing and evaluating compliance programs. Park, an associate, earned her J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. Katie Pawlitz represents health care providers and manufacturers on regulatory issues under Medicare, Medicaid and health care fraud and abuse laws. An associate, she earned her J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law. Tisha Schestopol defends clients under investigation for health care fraud and abuse arising under federal and state laws and regulations. Schestopol, an associate, earned her J.D. from George Washington University Law School.