Leslie A. Thornton

Counsel

Leslie advises academic medical centers, technology and biotechnology companies, universities, hospitals, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, and other health- and research-focused organizations on a broad range of compliance, regulatory, and transactional issues.

Before rejoining the health care group, Leslie was senior health privacy counsel at a publicly traded, global consumer technology company. In that role, she supported the company’s health research initiatives, working directly with business and engineering teams to design privacy solutions for related products and services.

Prior to law school, Leslie completed doctoral studies at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She has experience as an academic researcher in both public health and psychiatric settings, including extensive training in advanced statistical and epidemiologic methods.

Experience

Research. Provides ongoing assistance to entities conducting or otherwise supporting research (human, animal, bench), including research development and contracting issues, federal grants and contracts matters, human subjects and animal protections, research misconduct, foreign influence, government audits and investigations, research compliance program design and implementation, and inter-institutional research issues.
Digital Health/Health Tech. Provides ongoing support to clients in the digital health and health tech space, including development and implementation of app- and web-based health initiatives and remote research, as well as legal issues arising from the application of novel technologies/devices in health care (e.g., artificial intelligence/machine learning).
Privacy and Security. Provides ongoing advice to a range of clients regarding health care privacy and security matters, including implementation of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), as well as related responses to security breaches and incidents under federal and state law.
Pro Bono. Maintains active pro bono practice, including evaluating case files for the Innocence Project's Intake Department and representing persons seeking federal disability benefits.

Publications

Cited, “Ropes & Gray to Open Third Calif. Office in Los Angeles,” The Recorder (December 20, 2021)
Cited, “Ropes & Gray Opens Los Angeles Office with Paul Hastings Hire,” Bloomberg Law (December 20, 2021)
Profiled, “Apple Senior Counsel Rejoins Ropes & Gray,” California Daily Journal (August 9, 2021)
Profiled, “As Tech and Life Sciences Client Demand Hits All-Time High, Big Law Firms Accelerate Lateral Hires,” The Recorder, The American Lawyer and Law.com (August 4, 2021)
Profiled, “Apple health privacy lawyer returns to Ropes & Gray,” Reuters (August 3, 2021)
Editor, “The Broad Reach of GPDR: Europe’s New Data Protections and Their Impact on U.S. Health Care Entities,” AHLA Connections (January 2019)
Co-author, “Institutional Review Boards: A Primer,” AHLA (December 2018)
Co-author, “GDPR Complicates Admissions Applications for U.S. Universities,” Bloomberg BNA’s Privacy Law Watch (June 27, 2018)
Co-author, “Final Guidelines on Consent Requirements Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation: Implications for Scientific Research,” Bloomberg BNA’s Life Sciences Law & Industry Report (April 30, 2018)
Co-author, “New Draft Guidelines on GDPR Consent Requirement’s Application to Scientific Research,” Bloomberg BNA’s Medical Law & Research Policy Report (January 17, 2018)
Co-author, “FDA Eases Burdens on Expanded Access Use,” Bloomberg BNA’s Medical Research Law & Policy Report (November 15, 2017)
Co-author, “Using Biospecimens Collected Abroad in Future Research: Key Considerations,” Bloomberg BNA’s Medical Research Law & Policy Report (April 19, 2017)
Co-author, “Recent Changes in French Law Affecting Clinical Research and Trials,” Bloomberg BNA Medical Research Law & Policy Report (February 15, 2017)

Presentations

Presenter, “Regulation of Health Care Privacy and Security in the Metaverse,” HIPAA Summit 40 (March 8, 2023)
Presenter, “Life Sciences 2022 Roundup and 2023 Outlook,” American Health Law Association webinar (February 14, 2023)
Presenter, “Investigator Financial Disclosure Obligations,” Ropes & Gray Webinar (January 12, 2023)
Presenter, “Digital Health and Real-World Data: Balancing the Potential for Improved Health Outcomes and Health Systems Against Data Privacy and Security Protections,” IPMI Healthcare Law & Compliance Institute (October 2, 2022)
Moderator, “Balancing Access to Health Data & Privacy,” Consero Virtual Healthcare General Counsel Forum (October 19, 2021)
Speaker, “Clinical Trials and Human Research: Complying With New Regulatory Obligations,” Strafford Webinar (January 17, 2018)
Speaker, “Complying With the EU GDPR Requirements in Clinical Trials,” Ropes & Gray Roundtable Discussion (December 2017)
Presenter, “Federal Grants: What You Need to Know About the New OMB Rules,” Boston Bar Association (December 10, 2014)
Speaker, “FDA & Regulatory Issues Facing Medical and Lifestyle Devices and Apps,” Ropes & Gray West Coast Lunchtime Legal Briefing Teleconference (October 2014)
Presenter, “Telemedicine: Virtual Care Creates Real Fraud and Abuse Risks for Hospitals,” AHLA (September 8, 2014)

Education

JD, University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 2012; supervising editor, California Law Review
PhD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2009; Delta Omega; Johnson & Johnson Community Healthcare Scholar
BA (Psychology and Flute Performance), summa cum laude, University of California, Los Angeles, 2004; Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions / Qualifications

Qualifications

California, 2012

Awards

LMG Life Sciences Americas Awards “Impact Deal of the Year” for advising Pfizer in $11.6 billion acquisition of Biohaven Pharmaceuticals (2022)