Joel E. Roberson is an associate practicing in the firm's Public Policy & Regulation Practice Group. Mr. Roberson's practice focuses on legislative, regulatory and compliance issues primarily in the areas of healthcare, life sciences, and political law.
Mr. Roberson advises healthcare and life sciences clients on the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), reimbursement, health information technology (IT) incentives and health policy issues. Mr. Roberson has also drafted healthcare legislation and amendment text on behalf of clients. Mr. Roberson's healthcare clients include hospitals, health systems, physician groups, medical malpractice insurance companies and laboratory organizations.
Mr. Roberson advises political law clients on lobbying, campaign finance and pay-to-play compliance issues related to the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA), House and Senate gift and travel rules and related state and local laws and ordinances. Mr. Roberson's political law clients include corporations, trade associations, political action committees (PACs), non-profit entities (501(c)(4)s and 501(c)(6)s) and other political organizations.
Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Roberson worked in the Leadership offices of former Congressman J.C. Watts (R-OK) and former Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-OH) in the House Republican Conference. Under Chairman Watts, Mr. Roberson drafted Floor Briefings for Members and congressional staff regarding legislation scheduled for consideration. Under Chairwoman Pryce, Mr. Roberson prepared and helped manage legislation debated on the House floor in coordination with Committee, Leadership, and Executive branch staff.
Mr. Roberson also served as a law clerk for the House Judiciary Committee under Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) where he assisted the Chief Counsel during the reauthorization of the U.S. PATRIOT Act. Mr. Roberson has additional professional experience in the areas of public affairs, communications, and marketing.
In the immediate wake of Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Roberson led three groups of volunteer law students to both Mississippi and Louisiana to provide volunteer legal services. The students worked on various legal issues including home owner's insurance, foreclosure, succession, criminal, immigration, and administrative law issues as well as providing basic services to those in need.