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Sara Alpert Lawson represents healthcare organizations, managed care companies, providers, and executives in government investigations, False Claims Act litigation, and other high-stakes disputes. She regularly advises clients facing scrutiny from the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and other government authorities.
Drawing on nearly two decades of litigation experience, Sara helps clients navigate matters involving reimbursement practices, coding and billing issues, Medicare Advantage risk adjustment, medical necessity allegations, Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute concerns, and other regulatory issues affecting participation in federal healthcare programs. She also counsels clients through parallel civil and criminal investigations and enforcement proceedings.
Sara’s practice includes:
Compliance & Government Investigations – Defending hospitals, academic medical centers, managed care organizations, physician groups, and healthcare executives in False Claims Act investigations and litigation; guiding clients through government investigations conducted by the DOJ, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and HHS-OIG, including matters involving potential civil and criminal exposure; conducting internal investigations involving allegations of Stark Law violations, Anti-Kickback Statute concerns, and other healthcare compliance matters.
Healthcare Compliance – Representing clients in matters involving Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, risk adjustment, reimbursement, coding and billing, medical necessity, informed consent, and fraud and abuse compliance issues.
Complex Business Litigation – Advising healthcare entities, investors, and businesses in complex commercial litigation, including contract disputes, professional liability claims, governance disputes, and business tort matters; serving as lead trial counsel in federal and state court litigation and advises clients on dispute strategy from investigation through trial and resolution.
Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Sara was a partner at Zuckerman Spaeder LLP.
Memberships
American Bar Association — Criminal Justice Section Council (2024-present), Vice Chair At Large (2026-2027); Criminal Justice Section Task Force on Prosecutorial Independence, Co-Chair (2024-present)
Maryland Bar Foundation — Board of Directors (2026)
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
American Health Law Association (AHLA)
Federal Bar Association
American Bar Association
Women’s White Collar Defense Association
Serjeants Inn Law Club
Riveters Club
Law360 — Florida Editorial Advisory Board (2023)
Bay Area Legal Services — Development Council (2023)
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law — Alumni Board (2018-2023)
The Florida Bar — Wm. Reece Smith Jr. Leadership Academy Committee (2018-2020)
Bay Area Legal Services — Board of Directors (2011-2018)
Wm. Reece Smith Jr. Florida Bar Leadership Academy — Class I
Goldburg-Cacciatore Criminal Law Inn of Court — Barrister
Crossroads for Florida Kids — Attorney Ad Litem (2016-2023)
Memberships
American Bar Association — Criminal Justice Section Council (2024-present), Vice Chair At Large (2026-2027); Criminal Justice Section Task Force on Prosecutorial Independence, Co-Chair (2024-present)
Maryland Bar Foundation — Board of Directors (2026)
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
American Health Law Association (AHLA)
Federal Bar Association
American Bar Association
Women’s White Collar Defense Association
Serjeants Inn Law Club
Riveters Club
Law360 — Florida Editorial Advisory Board (2023)
Bay Area Legal Services — Development Council (2023)
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law — Alumni Board (2018-2023)
The Florida Bar — Wm. Reece Smith Jr. Leadership Academy Committee (2018-2020)
Bay Area Legal Services — Board of Directors (2011-2018)
Wm. Reece Smith Jr. Florida Bar Leadership Academy — Class I
Goldburg-Cacciatore Criminal Law Inn of Court — Barrister
Crossroads for Florida Kids — Attorney Ad Litem (2016-2023)
Additional Experience
Represented a large academic medical center in a non-intervened False Claims Act (FCA) investigation and litigation concerning emergency department coding and billing.
Represented managed care plan in an intervened FCA suit involving dispute over impact of capitation rate calculation errors.
Obtained declaratory judgment on behalf of a shareholder of a Maryland real estate investment trust (REIT) in connection with an action challenging the board’s failure to hold annual meetings in compliance with Maryland law in an effort to disenfranchise the entity’s shareholders.
Successfully represented an activist investor of a Maryland corporation in litigation to compel an annual meeting of shareholders.
Represented a large health system in connection with a civil FCA investigation.
Represented a Taft-Hartley pension plan in litigation filed against the plan’s former actuarial service provider for professional negligence and breach of contract.
Represented a large health system in civil litigation brought against a provider of actuarial services. The case alleged that the defendant understated the pension plans’ liabilities of a smaller health system acquired by the client by more than $130 million, saddling the client with that liability after the acquisition closed. After an 18-day federal jury trial, the case settled on terms satisfactory to the client.
Represented a business owner in connection with a criminal investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office involving allegations of pandemic-related fraud. No charges were brought against the client.
Obtained dismissal of an FCA lawsuit alleging that the client, a healthcare system, failed to properly obtain informed consent from patients undergoing surgeries, resulting in purportedly false submissions for payment to Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare.
Represented a physician in connection with an investigation conducted by the HHS Office of the Inspector General.
Represented a large, national retailer in litigation in the Middle District of Florida involving an alleged breach of contract. The matter settled on favorable terms for the client.
Represented a certified class of individuals who were denied coverage for residential treatment, intensive outpatient, and outpatient services by a mental and behavioral healthcare services company.
Represented co-owners of a home health provider in a civil FCA investigation.
Represented owners of a Medicare managed care provider in a civil FCA investigation.
Conducted an internal investigation for a home health provider in connection with internal allegations of possible Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute violations.
Represented a physician in connection with an FCA investigation in the Middle District of Florida.
Represented former executives of a health maintenance organization in connection with a government investigation in the Middle District of Florida.
Represented several employees of a homebuilder in connection with a mortgage fraud investigation arising out of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Due to diligent efforts to understand the clients and their business, was able to keep all clients from being prosecuted.
Represented a freight forwarding company in connection with a joint investigation in the Middle District of Florida by the Department of Commerce and Department of Homeland Security resulting in a non-prosecution agreement.
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law - J.D., 2007
The Johns Hopkins University - B.A., 2003
Education
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law - J.D., 2007
The Johns Hopkins University - B.A., 2003
Maryland, 2013
District of Columbia, 2009
Florida, 2007
U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Admissions
Maryland, 2013
District of Columbia, 2009
Florida, 2007
U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
"Sara Alpert Lawson has extensive experience defending clients in state and federal government investigations and white-collar criminal cases. She represents individuals and businesses in a range of sectors, with particular expertise in healthcare.” Client feedback: “Sara is responsive, intelligent and strategic."
From Chambers USA 2026
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