Great Healthcare Cashout: Ken Choe, legal pointman on Obamacare, goes to K Street

In a move that will strengthen its already formidable health practice, Hogan Lovells has added Ken Choe, formerly a top-ranking lawyer at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as a partner.

“There are few lawyers of Ken’s caliber in the health field, and arguably none with more knowledge of legal issues surrounding the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, or Medicaid,” said Agnes Dover, global head of Hogan Lovells’ Government Regulatory practice group. “He will be a tremendous asset to our health insurer, provider, health information technology, and pharmaceutical and device manufacturer clients. Ken’s skills and experience are a great addition to our firm, which already boasts a large number of health lawyers who served in the government.”

Choe was an integral member of the Obama Administration’s core health care reform team, and brings a wealth of experience to Hogan Lovells. At HHS, he was the Department’s legal point person in enacting, implementing, and defending the Affordable Care Act. He also served as lead counsel on matters involving Medicare, Medicaid, health IT, and the health plans offered on the newly created insurance exchanges, among others. Before joining the Administration, Choe was a litigator at the American Civil Liberties Union, and he brought his litigation skills to bear in working closely with the Department of Justice on Affordable Care Act challenges — including at the Supreme Court in 2012. Choe began his legal career in the Clinton Administration where he served as an assistant to the HHS General Counsel.

“I look forward to helping plans, providers, suppliers, and others in the health care sector navigate the challenges in the legal landscape occasioned by the health care reform legislation,” said Choe. “Hogan Lovells presents the ideal platform from which to launch my practice.”