Waller Strengthens Government Investigations and White Collar Practice With Hiring of Former Assistant United States Attorney J.D. Thomas

NASHVILLE, TN--(Marketwired - Jan 6, 2015) -  Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP has announced a significant addition to its Government Investigations and White Collar practice with former Assistant United States Attorney J.D. Thomas joining the firm as a partner. Thomas most recently served in the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, where he focused on prosecuting healthcare fraud.

Thomas joins a team of experienced white collar/qui tam attorneys at Waller, including others from the Department of Justice and other U.S. Attorney's Offices. The group frequently represents healthcare organizations, boards of directors and executives in federal, state and local criminal, civil and regulatory enforcement matters.

"The ongoing expansion of our government investigations and white collar practice comes in direct response to the heightened government scrutiny faced by healthcare providers and their need for skilled litigators and advisors who can navigate these complex challenges," said Waller chairman Matt Burnstein. "J.D.'s experience in the U.S. Attorney's office and in private practice makes him a great advocate for clients who face government inquiries, or the prospect of criminal, civil or severe administrative penalties. His work with attorneys throughout the Department of Justice, other government agencies and state attorneys general makes him an immediate asset to clients navigating the investigation and response process."

At the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, he investigated and prosecuted numerous actions brought under the False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Law, among others. Thomas served as the lead attorney for the United States in a number of notable cases, including the largest Medicare in-patient short-stay settlement ever obtained under the False Claims Act and one of the largest grant fraud settlements.

Prior to the U.S. Attorney's office, he was in private practice in Nashville and Washington D.C., where he advised clients on various healthcare, international antitrust and high profile litigation matters. Thomas obtained his J.D. from the University of Virginia and received his B.S. in political science from Vassar College.

About Waller

Waller is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee with offices in Birmingham, Alabama, Austin, Texas, and Memphis, Tennessee. With approximately 200 attorneys, Waller helps clients navigate a diverse range of complex transactional, regulatory and litigation issues across a wide range of industries. For more information, please visit www.wallerlaw.com.