Dilworth Paxson is pleased to announce that recognized health care attorney, Katherine M. Keefe, has joined the firm as Chair of the Health Care Group. Also joining the firm is Joseph Freudenberg as Chair of the Environmental Group. These additions reflect an initiative identified in the firm’s recently completed strategic plan.
Joseph H. Jacovini, Chairman of the firm, commented; “There is some wonderful legal talent coming to the firm. We are delighted that Katherine, an experienced and highly regarded healthcare attorney, joined us and will lead our Health Care Group. The Strategic Planning Committee worked diligently on the firm’s strategic plan and Katherine is the perfect person to lead the firm’s health care initiative.”
Keefe was previously a Partner at Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin. Prior to that position she was Deputy General Counsel at Independence Blue Cross where she was head of the health insurer’s managed care law group and as General Counsel of Keystone Health Plan East. Earlier in her career, Keefe served as the in-house counsel at Hahnemann Hospital.
Keefe provides regulatory and transactional guidance to a variety of health care organizations including proprietary and not-for-profit health systems, academic medical centers, health insurance and managed care organizations and vendors to the health care industry. Keefe counsels her clients on federal and state health care reform, managed care contracting, fraud and abuse, electronic medical records, health information privacy and security, facility licensing, medical staff issues, regulatory compliance and government reimbursement programs, including Medicare Advantage, Part D and state Medicaid programs.
“I am thrilled to be joining Dilworth to head the Health Care Practice Group,” said Keefe. “Regardless of the shape ultimately taken by health care reform, our system is at a cross-roads; with my years of experience in the health care industry, I can give our clients the insight they need to move forward through the rapidly changing health care landscape.”
“The firm is also bolstering our environmental practice by adding Joe as the group Chair,” said Jacovini. “He has real industry experience and is a good match to lead this practice group. Coming from private practice, Joe has a unique perspective to understand our client’s needs.”
For the past seven years, Freudenberg served as Senior Counsel for Sunoco, Inc.
Freudenberg focuses his practice on complex environmental issues in business transactions, environmental compliance and enforcement; Brownfields and site remediation, and corporate environmental management. He has represented clients in environmental cleanup projects under numerous federal and state programs, including Superfund, RCRA Corrective Action, Pennsylvania’s Land Recycling Program (Act 2) and New Jersey’s Site Remediation Program.
“I am eager to assist in building Dilworth Paxson’s environmental practice,” said Freudenberg. “I have practiced environmental law for 14 years and my experience as in-house counsel at Sunoco has given me a unique perspective on client expectations.”
In addition to the two new partners, Dilworth has added two new Of Counsels. Scott K. Baker joined the firm’s Business Department. Baker was the former General Counsel at Philadelphia Media Holdings, LLC. James H. Landgraf also joined the firm in the Litigation Department and the Real Estate Group. Landgraf has more than 20 years of experience handling construction contracting and litigation. He was previously a shareholder at Cureton Clark. Baker will be in the firm’s Philadelphia office and Landgraf will be in the Cherry Hill, NJ office.