Insights
Barbara Rowland Joins Post & Schell's Internal Investigations & White Collar Defense Group
Post & Schell, P.C. today announced that Barbara Rowland has joined the Firm as a principal in its Internal Investigations & White Collar Defense Practice Group, resident in its Washington, D.C. Office. Ms. Rowland will focus her practice on representing large for-profit and not-for profit corporations in a variety of industries, including pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing, retail pharmacy, pharmacy benefit management, health care and defense contracting, providing trial representation and counsel regarding internal and government investigations, and representing boards, management and employees in connection with such investigations.
Ms. Rowland joins Post & Schell with over 27 years of experience in government and industry, most recently overseeing litigation and internal investigations at the nation’s largest pharmacy health care provider and at one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. She also spent nearly a decade as a trial attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia, and began her career in private practice as a white collar criminal defense attorney in Washington, D.C.
“We welcome Barbara as a strategic addition to our robust white collar practice,” said Brian M. Peters, president and chief executive officer of Post & Schell, P.C. “Barbara’s hands-on and real-world government and in-house experience provides the Firm’s clients with seasoned judgment and a vitally important skillset. This is particularly true for the Firm’s pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturer, retail pharmacy, and pharmacy benefit management clients, as well as those that serve as various States’ Medicaid providers.”
“Barbara’s varied background in white collar issues, including False Claims Act defense, internal investigations, and defending companies facing government investigation and enforcement action, further broadens our White Collar Group,” said Ronald H. Levine, principal and chair of Post & Schell’s Internal Investigations & White Collar Defense Practice Group. “Our clients now call upon an ever more experienced team of attorneys which possesses the government and industry background necessary to defend bet-the-company investigations.”
Prior to joining Post & Schell, Ms. Rowland was vice president, litigation for the nation’s largest pharmacy health care provider, a Fortune 20 company. During her tenure, she was responsible for handling high profile government investigations and conducting internal investigations. Her matter responsibilities included federal and state enforcement actions involving Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, DEA regulatory requirements, consumer protection issues, and environmental compliance. Ms. Rowland was recognized in August 2013 as Top Litigation Counsel by The First Chair Awards, an annual selection of in-house counsel who have made significant contributions to the legal community.
She also served as the assistant counsel, government investigations for a global pharmaceutical and health care leader, a Fortune 60 company. There, she was responsible for developing strategy in connection with federal and state law enforcement investigations, conducting internal investigations, and providing legal counsel to the company’s compliance officer and business units.
Ms. Rowland also spent eight years with the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Office’s Civil Division. Her affirmative and civil litigation achievements included successful False Claims Act investigations of: a pharmacy benefit management company involving manufacturer rebates and drug interchanges; a brand and generic drug manufacturer; and the world’s largest dental device manufacturer. In 2006 she received the Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service in recognition of her resolution of pharmaceutical fraud cases.
“Post & Schell offers a unique opportunity to work with one of the strongest white collar legal teams on the East Coast,” said Ms. Rowland. “Our background in government and industry grounds aggressive, first-rate representation. At the same time, the Firm’s uniquely collaborative culture also allows practice groups to work on multidisciplinary matters, which is particularly relevant for health care and defense industry clients with sophisticated legal and regulatory needs.”
Ms. Rowland began her legal career as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Jane R. Roth, Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. She holds a B.A. degree from the University of Delaware and received her law degree from the University of California’s Hastings College of Law.
