As the firm’s first full-time pro bono partner, Sara leads the pro bono practice with a multidimensional approach. She prioritizes pro bono opportunities that directly impact people and entities in our local communities, align with the firm’s values and inclusion priorities, support attorney development, and build partnerships with community organizations and in-house legal teams.

Overview
Representative Matters
Insights
Awards

Sara is a partner and chair of the firm’s Pro Bono practice, a core piece of its commitment to improving communities and serving their legal needs. In her role, Sara works closely with community partners to support pro bono efforts. Sara also builds pro bono partnerships with in-house legal departments, marshalling the combined talent of the firm and in-house attorneys to deliver free legal services to individuals and entities that otherwise would be unable to afford counsel. Sara’s personal pro bono practice focuses on issues of social equity, protections for children, and election integrity.

Select examples of her pro bono work include:

  • Working with the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) to represent transgender clients seeking to legally change their names.
  • Serving as a volunteer attorney with the Support Center for Child Advocates to represent children in the foster care system.
  • Volunteering to respond to voters’ questions on Pennsylvania’s Non-Partisan Election Protection Hotline, which is run in partnership with the Lawyers’ Committee, Troutman Pepper Locke, Blank Rome, and The Pepper Center for Public Service.

Prior to shifting her focus to pro bono, Sara represented businesses and individuals in complex commercial litigation and white collar matters. Focusing primarily on the health care and insurance industries, Sara has litigated cases through trial in both federal and state court, and has represented clients in arbitrations and administrative hearings. Additionally, she has conducted numerous internal investigations, represented clients in civil and criminal government investigations, and advised on regulatory compliance and risk mitigation strategies.

Sara is committed to advancing inclusion efforts at the firm and more broadly in the legal industry. As a member of several firm committees, including the Recruiting Committee, the Associates Committee, and the Women’s Initiative, Sara has worked to recruit, develop, and support diverse attorneys. She is particularly proud to have led efforts to recruit the most diverse associate classes in firm history. As chair of Pro Bono, Sara aligns the firm’s pro bono work with its inclusion priorities and provides attorneys from all backgrounds with pro bono experience and leadership opportunities that support their career development.

Health Care Litigation and Counseling

  • Symphony Health Solutions Corp. v. IMS Health, Inc. – Defended a multinational health care data company against antitrust claims and prosecuting counterclaims for misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, and employee raiding.
  • Ruff v. Albert Einstein Healthcare Network – Defended Albert Einstein Health Network, related entities, and executives in a putative collective action case alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and a putative class action alleging violations of RICO and ERISA.
  • Source Healthcare Analytics, Inc., et al. v. SDI Health LLC, et al. – Defended a major health care analytics company in a lawsuit brought by a competitor alleging misappropriation of trade secrets and confidential business information.
  • Represented multiple payors across the U.S. in litigation challenging CMS risk adjustment methodology for ACA market exchanges.
  • Represented payors in litigation regarding risk corridors payments due under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
  • Represented health care providers in responding to Medicare (ZPIC) audits, including appealing denied claims and demands for repayment.
  • Counseled payors on ACA regulations.
  • Represented a payment processor in proceedings involving alleged violations of HIPAA and EFT regulations.

Internal and Government Investigations

  • Represented medical professionals in an investigation involving allegations of fraudulent billing practices and subpar patient care.
  • Represented health care clients in investigations involving the Anti-Kickback statute, Stark law, False Claims Act, and related statutes.
  • Represented a corporation and an individual in a federal investigation of Medicare fraud.
  • Investigated allegations of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) fraud.
  • Represented companies under government investigation for violation of antitrust laws.
  • Investigated and advised on fraud, waste, and abuse issues in an academic medical center.
  • Investigated allegations of violations of immigration regulations.

Insurance Litigation and Counseling

  • Obtained summary judgment on breach of contract and bad faith for the insurer in numerous cases, including Allstate Insurance Company v. Lagreca, Blaylock v. Allstate Insurance Company, Katzenmoyer v. Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company v. Vargas, and Ke v. Allstate.
  • Successfully litigated significant issues related to insurance bad faith through the appellate court level, including the Third Circuit cases of Wolfe v. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company and Lieb v. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company.
  • Represented health care insurers in litigation related to the ACA.
  • Advised insurer on complex coverage matters involving regulatory liability.
  • Best Lawyers in America®: Commercial Litigation (2024-2027)

Sara is a partner and chair of the firm’s Pro Bono practice, a core piece of its commitment to improving communities and serving their legal needs. In her role, Sara works closely with community partners to support pro bono efforts. Sara also builds pro bono partnerships with in-house legal departments, marshalling the combined talent of the firm and in-house attorneys to deliver free legal services to individuals and entities that otherwise would be unable to afford counsel. Sara’s personal pro bono practice focuses on issues of social equity, protections for children, and election integrity.

Select examples of her pro bono work include:

  • Working with the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) to represent transgender clients seeking to legally change their names.
  • Serving as a volunteer attorney with the Support Center for Child Advocates to represent children in the foster care system.
  • Volunteering to respond to voters’ questions on Pennsylvania’s Non-Partisan Election Protection Hotline, which is run in partnership with the Lawyers’ Committee, Troutman Pepper Locke, Blank Rome, and The Pepper Center for Public Service.

Prior to shifting her focus to pro bono, Sara represented businesses and individuals in complex commercial litigation and white collar matters. Focusing primarily on the health care and insurance industries, Sara has litigated cases through trial in both federal and state court, and has represented clients in arbitrations and administrative hearings. Additionally, she has conducted numerous internal investigations, represented clients in civil and criminal government investigations, and advised on regulatory compliance and risk mitigation strategies.

Sara is committed to advancing inclusion efforts at the firm and more broadly in the legal industry. As a member of several firm committees, including the Recruiting Committee, the Associates Committee, and the Women’s Initiative, Sara has worked to recruit, develop, and support diverse attorneys. She is particularly proud to have led efforts to recruit the most diverse associate classes in firm history. As chair of Pro Bono, Sara aligns the firm’s pro bono work with its inclusion priorities and provides attorneys from all backgrounds with pro bono experience and leadership opportunities that support their career development.

Health Care Litigation and Counseling

  • Symphony Health Solutions Corp. v. IMS Health, Inc. – Defended a multinational health care data company against antitrust claims and prosecuting counterclaims for misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, and employee raiding.
  • Ruff v. Albert Einstein Healthcare Network – Defended Albert Einstein Health Network, related entities, and executives in a putative collective action case alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and a putative class action alleging violations of RICO and ERISA.
  • Source Healthcare Analytics, Inc., et al. v. SDI Health LLC, et al. – Defended a major health care analytics company in a lawsuit brought by a competitor alleging misappropriation of trade secrets and confidential business information.
  • Represented multiple payors across the U.S. in litigation challenging CMS risk adjustment methodology for ACA market exchanges.
  • Represented payors in litigation regarding risk corridors payments due under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
  • Represented health care providers in responding to Medicare (ZPIC) audits, including appealing denied claims and demands for repayment.
  • Counseled payors on ACA regulations.
  • Represented a payment processor in proceedings involving alleged violations of HIPAA and EFT regulations.

Internal and Government Investigations

  • Represented medical professionals in an investigation involving allegations of fraudulent billing practices and subpar patient care.
  • Represented health care clients in investigations involving the Anti-Kickback statute, Stark law, False Claims Act, and related statutes.
  • Represented a corporation and an individual in a federal investigation of Medicare fraud.
  • Investigated allegations of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) fraud.
  • Represented companies under government investigation for violation of antitrust laws.
  • Investigated and advised on fraud, waste, and abuse issues in an academic medical center.
  • Investigated allegations of violations of immigration regulations.

Insurance Litigation and Counseling

  • Obtained summary judgment on breach of contract and bad faith for the insurer in numerous cases, including Allstate Insurance Company v. Lagreca, Blaylock v. Allstate Insurance Company, Katzenmoyer v. Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company v. Vargas, and Ke v. Allstate.
  • Successfully litigated significant issues related to insurance bad faith through the appellate court level, including the Third Circuit cases of Wolfe v. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company and Lieb v. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company.
  • Represented health care insurers in litigation related to the ACA.
  • Advised insurer on complex coverage matters involving regulatory liability.
  • Best Lawyers in America®: Commercial Litigation (2024-2027)
  • Board Member and Treasurer, Community Legal Services and Philadelphia Legal Assistance, 2018-present
  • Member, Law360 Access to Justice Advisory Board, 2024
  • Leadership Philadelphia, Core Class 2017
  • Chair of the Board of Directors, Parent-Infant Center, 2012-2019
  • Board of Directors, ArtWell, 2017-2019

Education

  • Temple University Beasley School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2005, note and comment editor, Temple Law Review
  • University of Pennsylvania, B.A., cum laude, with honors, 2002

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • Co-author, “Providers Prevail in Challenge to No Surprises Act Interim Final Rule,” Troutman Pepper, March 4, 2022.
  • Co-author, “Unsurprisingly, The No Surprises Act Has Surprises: Part II,” Troutman Pepper, December 17, 2021.
  • Co-author, “DC Circuit Court of Appeals Revives Medicare Advantage Overpayment Rule,” Pratt’s Government Contracting Law Report, December 2021.
  • Co-author, “The No Surprises Act Gets Litigated,” Troutman Pepper, November 16, 2021.
  • Co-author, “HHS Issues Second Set of Regulations Implementing the No Surprises Act,” Troutman Pepper, October 13, 2021.
  • Co-author, “DC Circuit Revives Medicare Advantage Overpayment Rule,” Troutman Pepper, September 21, 2021.
  • Co-author, “Pennsylvania Supreme Court Decision Broadens Medical Peer Review Protections in Leadbitter v. Keystone Anesthesia Consultants,” Troutman Pepper, August 26, 2021.
  • Co-author, “US Chamber of Commerce Files Lawsuit Challenging HHS’s Health Plan Price Transparency Rule,” Troutman Pepper, August 25, 2021.
  • Co-author, “HHS Issues Interim Final Rule for the No Surprises Act,” Troutman Pepper, July 26, 2021.
  • Co-author, “Facing Up to Tough Issues: Health Care Compliance Concerns with Facial Recognition Technology,” Troutman Pepper, May 11, 2021.
  • Co-author, “New State Law Eliminates All Copays, Coinsurance, and Deductibles for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services,” Troutman Pepper, May 3, 2021.
  • Co-author, “Two Opinions Broaden the Scope of Liability and Strip Defenses Under Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law,” Troutman Pepper, March 10, 2021.
  • Co-author, “SURPRISE! Along With COVID Relief, Congress Delivers Long-Anticipated Changes to Medical Billing with the “No Surprises Act”, ” Troutman Pepper, December 29, 2020.
  • Co-author, “D.C. Circuit Upholds Short Term Plans as Alternative to ACA Plans,” Troutman Pepper, July 27, 2020.
  • Co-author, “D.C. District Court Upholds Rule Requiring Hospitals to Disclose Privately Negotiated Insurances Prices,” Pepper Hamilton Client Alert, June 25, 2020.
  • Co-author, “Health Care Providers Challenge Constitutionality of Michigan Shutdown Orders,” Pepper Hamilton Client Alert, May 18, 2020.
  • Co-author, “Whiplash for Insurers in Pennsylvania on COVID-19 Coverage Issues,” Pepper Hamilton Client Alert, May 13, 2020.
  • Co-author, “Supreme Court Finds Insurers Entitled to Millions in ACA Payments,” Pepper Hamilton Client Alert, April 29, 2020.
  • Co-author, “PA Introduces Legislation That Would Rewrite Business Interruption Insurance Policies to Cover COVID-19 Losses,” Pepper Hamilton Client Alert, April 21, 2020.
  • Co-author, “Some States Loosen Licensing Requirements for Telehealth Providers During COVID-19 Pandemic,” Pepper Hamilton Client Alert, March 31, 2020.

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