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Denise Barnes counsels clients in high-stakes matters related to fraud allegations, including in healthcare, federal contract procurement, and securities and financial services. A former trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), she has extensive experience handling issues related to compliance, white-collar and regulatory investigations, and complex commercial litigation. Denise represents businesses in public and non-public investigations, regulatory inquiries, and proceedings involving federal and state agencies. She frequently assists clients navigating government investigations related to allegations arising under the False Claims Act (FCA), Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), Stark Law, and Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA). Notably, during her tenure at the DOJ, she spearheaded numerous multi-district investigations that resulted in over $2.7 billion in recoveries for federal taxpayers.
Denise’s notable accomplishments include investigating and settling high-profile cases involving major financial institutions, hospital systems, and government contractors, displaying a unique skill-set and holistic experience in navigating intricate legal landscapes. She continues to leverage this extensive experience to represent clients in a myriad of investigations and compliance matters.
Denise Barnes counsels clients in high-stakes matters related to fraud allegations, including in healthcare, federal contract procurement, and securities and financial services. A former trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), she has extensive experience handling issues related to compliance, white-collar and regulatory investigations, and complex commercial litigation. Denise represents businesses in public and non-public investigations, regulatory inquiries, and proceedings involving federal and state agencies. She frequently assists clients navigating government investigations related to allegations arising under the False Claims Act (FCA), Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), Stark Law, and Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA). Notably, during her tenure at the DOJ, she spearheaded numerous multi-district investigations that resulted in over $2.7 billion in recoveries for federal taxpayers.
Denise’s notable accomplishments include investigating and settling high-profile cases involving major financial institutions, hospital systems, and government contractors, displaying a unique skill-set and holistic experience in navigating intricate legal landscapes. She continues to leverage this extensive experience to represent clients in a myriad of investigations and compliance matters. She provides strategic counsel with a focus on:
False Claims Act – Defending clients related to FCA investigations by the DOJ and U.S. Attorneys’ Office, as well as internal audits and investigations.
Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law Risk – Providing counsel to ensure compliance and mitigate risk related to AKS and Stark Law.
FIRREA and Financial Fraud – Defending clients related to financial fraud investigations by the DOJ, U.S. Attorneys’ Office, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Medicare Reimbursement – Representing hospital systems in Medicare reimbursement appeals before the Provider Reimbursement Review Board.
Denise is also a recognized leader in her practice, frequently participating in various speaking engagements and authoring articles on critical topics such as cybersecurity, government contract billing, financial data rights, and developments related to the FCA. She earned a Special Commendation Award from the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division in 2019.
Memberships
Women’s White Collar Defense Association — Diversity Committee Member (2023-present)
Washington Bar Association — Young Lawyers Division (2015-2017)
National Bar Association — Women Lawyers Division, Greater Washington Area Chapter (2010-2016)
Federal Bar Association — Qui Tam Section, Programming & Education Committees
American Health Law Association (AHLA)
Denise Barnes counsels clients in high-stakes matters related to fraud allegations, including in healthcare, federal contract procurement, and securities and financial services. A former trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), she has extensive experience handling issues related to compliance, white-collar and regulatory investigations, and complex commercial litigation. Denise represents businesses in public and non-public investigations, regulatory inquiries, and proceedings involving federal and state agencies. She frequently assists clients navigating government investigations related to allegations arising under the False Claims Act (FCA), Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), Stark Law, and Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA). Notably, during her tenure at the DOJ, she spearheaded numerous multi-district investigations that resulted in over $2.7 billion in recoveries for federal taxpayers.
Denise’s notable accomplishments include investigating and settling high-profile cases involving major financial institutions, hospital systems, and government contractors, displaying a unique skill-set and holistic experience in navigating intricate legal landscapes. She continues to leverage this extensive experience to represent clients in a myriad of investigations and compliance matters.
Memberships
Women’s White Collar Defense Association — Diversity Committee Member (2023-present)
Washington Bar Association — Young Lawyers Division (2015-2017)
National Bar Association — Women Lawyers Division, Greater Washington Area Chapter (2010-2016)
Federal Bar Association — Qui Tam Section, Programming & Education Committees
American Health Law Association (AHLA)
Additional Experience
U.S. Department of Justice, Trial Attorney (2015-2022)
Investigated and settled an investigation of a major financial institution for $2.09 billion related to the bank’s alleged origination and sale of residential mortgage loans that it knew contained misstated income information and did not meet the quality that the bank represented.
Investigated and settled a parallel investigation of a hospital system for $513 million related to criminal charges and civil claims involving a scheme to defraud the United States and to pay kickbacks in exchange for patient referrals in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and the False Claims Act (FCA), among other things.
Investigated and settled an investigation of a government contractor for $2.481 million to resolve allegations that they submitted false claims for payment under a construction contract funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Investigated and settled a qui tam case against a software government contractor for $21.57 million to resolve allegations that company caused the government to be overcharged by providing misleading information about its commercial sales practices that was used in General Services Administration (GSA) contract negotiations.
Investigated and settled with a skilled nursing chain for $30 million to resolve allegations that the chain violated the FCA by knowingly submitting false claims to Medicare for rehabilitation therapy services that were not reasonable, necessary and skilled.
Investigated and settled allegations for $2.8 million to resolve claims that a hospital system violated the FCA by submitting or causing the submission of false claims for payment to federal healthcare programs related to alleged medically unnecessary procedures performed by a gynecologic oncologist.
Investigated and settled allegations for $775,000 to resolve claims that the doctor violated the FCA by submitting or causing the submission of false claims for payment to the federal healthcare programs related to alleged medically unnecessary surgical procedures.
Led numerous multidistrict nonpublic investigations involving financial institutions related to allegations of mail and wire fraud, false statements and false bank records, among other things, in coordination with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Comptroller of the Currency, the FDIC, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Led a nonpublic investigation of a major financial institution’s third-party vendor related to allegations of mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, false statement and false bank records, among other things, in coordination with the CFPB.
Led a nonpublic investigation of a hospital system related to AKS and FCA allegations involving nurse practitioners and other mid-level practitioners.
Led a nonpublic investigation of a government contractor related to FCA allegations that the contractor provided false and misleading information to GSA related to sales practices.
Led a nonpublic investigation of a development corporation related to FCA allegations of bid-rigging and public corruption, among other things.
Led a parallel civil investigation related to FCA allegations of improper bundling and upcoding of services by doctor.
Provided training to DOJ Civil Division attorneys related to FIRREA and financial fraud investigations, generally.
“Plenary Session: Fraud and Abuse Update,” Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Michigan Health Law Institute (March 2024)
“Perilous or Persuasive? Decision Points and Approaches for Making Your Case to the Government,” Federal Bar Association, Qui Tam Section (February 2024)
“The Good, the Bad, the [Arguably] Fraudulent: False Claims Act Developments” (panelist), WWCDA® Global Enforcement & Compliance Series (October 2023)
“Preparing for the Upsurge in FCA Cybersecurity Enforcement: Cross-Industry Strategies for Mitigating Risk and Staying Out of the Government’s Cross Hairs” (panelist), American Conference Institute, 10th Annual Advanced Forum on False Claims and Qui Tam Enforcement (January 2023)
Publications
“Setting the Stage: Scienter and SuperVal, the Fight that Never Ends” (co-author), Federal Bar Association, Qui Tam Section’s “Turning Square Corners” Newsletter
“Lessons From Verizon’s Cybersecurity FCA Self-Disclosure” (author), Law360 (October 2023)
“Gov’t Contract Billing Lessons From Booz Allen Settlement” (author), Law360 (August 2023)
“Banks On Notice As Prudential Regulators Catch Crypto Bug” (co-author), Law360 (February 2023)
“What To Know About CFPB’s Financial Data Rights Proposal” (co-author), Law360 (December 2022)
