(Washington, D.C., January 7, 2008) Ropes & Gray is pleased to announce the addition of four experienced attorneys to the firm's nationally known Health Care Practice. The group, with its substantial, collective expertise in Medicaid and Medicare matters, will base its practice in the firm's office in Washington, D.C.

Larry S. Gage, Nathan A. Brown, Barbara D.A. Eyman, and Charles A. Luband all come to Ropes & Gray from Powell Goldstein, where they were partners.

"We are very pleased that this group of talented and respected health care attorneys has joined Ropes & Gray," said Stephen A. Warnke, the chair of the firm's Health Care Practice. "Their broad range of experience, particularly in complex Medicaid and Medicare issues, will significantly bolster our capacity to serve health care and other clients."

"Powell Goldstein is a great regional firm with outstanding lawyers, many of whom I count as good friends," said Larry Gage, who leads the group of arriving attorneys. "At the same time, Ropes & Gray presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of a truly national health care practice. We already share many clients with Ropes & Gray, and the firm's locations – particularly New York, Boston and California – aligning nicely with my personal and professional relationships. I wish everyone at Powell Goldstein well and hope and expect to continue both friendship and professional collaboration with many of my former colleagues in the future."

With more than 33 years of experience, Larry Gage's practice focuses on serving government agencies, hospitals, medical schools and integrated health and hospital systems. Larry also works with his clients on a corporate level advising them with mergers, reorganizations as well as corporate and strategic planning. He also has a broad range of public-sector experience, serving as the deputy assistant secretary for health legislation in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He also served as staff counsel to the U.S. Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee.

As founder and president of the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, Larry drafted Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement reform measures to assist hospitals serving an increased number of low-income and elderly patients. Larry frequently lectures and writes about public health laws and policies. He is also a founder and member of the board of the American International Health Alliance and a member of the governing board of the University HealthSystem Consortium. In 2006, Larry was cited by the National Law Journal as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America, and Modern Healthcare magazine named him one of the 100 most powerful people in health care. Admitted to the bar in the District of Columbia, he earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard College and his law degree from Columbia University.

Barbara Eyman focuses her practice on health care law, financing and policy. She works with public and non-profit hospitals on several matters, including Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements and other financing sources, immigration issues, and governance restructuring. Barbara also served as a law clerk to Justice Ruth I. Abrams of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and a legislative assistant to former U.S. Representative Leon Panetta.

Barbara is an active member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the American Health Lawyers Association. She is admitted to the bars of the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Barbara earned her undergraduate degree at Middlebury College and her law degree at Harvard Law School.

Charles Luband's practice focuses on health care law, financing and policy, specializing in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement issues. He has a broad range of experience advocating for hospitals and health systems in the legislative and regulatory arenas at both the state and federal levels. Charles served as a law clerk to Chief Justice Herbert P. Wilkins of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

A member of the American Health Lawyers Association, Charles is admitted to the bars of the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Massachusetts and State of New York. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He earned his undergraduate degree at Brown University and his law degree at Harvard Law School.

Nathan Brown provides regulatory, legislative and litigation counsel to public and non-profit hospitals, national associations and other health care providers. In addition to his private practice, Nathan worked at Bread for the City Legal Clinic in Washington, D.C., where he represented clients in landlord and tenant, family law and Social Security disability appeal cases.

Nathan currently serves as president of Maryland's Young Alumni Club and is a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association. He is admitted to the bars of the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland. Nathan received his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland and his law degree from Harvard Law School.

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