Overview
Meredith Auten is a litigation and dispute resolution attorney in Holland & Knight's Philadelphia office and the leader of the Philadelphia False Claims Act Team. Ms. Auten focuses her practice on defending corporations facing bet-the-company federal and state government investigations, civil False Claims Act (FCA) and qui tam actions, and state attorney general matters, particularly in the pharmaceutical, healthcare and government contracting sectors. Ms. Auten's practice is national in scope, and she has represented clients in jurisdictions across the country.
Ms. Auten brings deep experience guiding corporate clients through complex, sensitive and often fast-moving enforcement investigations and matters. She regularly represents companies and executives in federal and state investigations involving allegations of healthcare fraud, government contracts fraud, Controlled Substances Act violations, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) issues and other business-related claims.
Ms. Auten regularly represents Fortune 500 companies and individuals in government investigations with no-charge decisions. In her career spanning more than 25 years, she has never drawn a government intervention decision. Her work includes defending clients in opioid-related investigations and litigation involving the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and state attorneys general nationwide.
Clients often rely on Ms. Auten to conduct sensitive internal investigations that require discretion, sound judgment and practical insight. She advises companies on strengthening compliance and ethics programs – particularly in the life sciences and healthcare industry – and collaborates closely with leadership teams to help them anticipate and address regulatory risk.
In addition to her legal practice, Ms. Auten frequently publishes and lectures nationwide on numerous white collar litigation topics, including issues related to the FCA, opioids and internal investigations.
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Ms. Auten was an equity partner at an international law firm in its Philadelphia office.
Representative Experience
- Regularly defends major pharmaceutical companies, skilled rehabilitation providers, nursing home chain operators, hospice providers, home care providers, major insurance companies, hospitals and integrated health systems, among others, in matters involving allegations of sales and marketing practices, Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) violations, pricing issues, medically unnecessary services and billing issues
- Regularly defends major defense contractors, aerospace manufacturers and other suppliers of goods and services to the government in matters involving allegations of pricing issues, defective products and overcharging
- Defends government contractors in matters involving allegations of pandemic fraud and achieved the only non-FCA resolution with no multiplier in any of these matters
- Regularly represents life sciences companies, healthcare providers and government contractors in FCA investigations where the government elected not to intervene or were otherwise declined with no civil or criminal charges
- Secured multiple motion to dismiss wins, including affirmances on appeal
- Defended matters in more than 30 jurisdictions across the country
- Successfully resolved multiple matters for a fraction of the potential exposure
- Represents pharmaceutical clients in criminal and civil investigations and litigation of issues, including sales and marketing practices, off-label promotions, pricing issues and Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) violations
- Represents a variety of hospitals, clinics, skilled rehabilitation providers, nursing home chain operators, hospice providers, home care providers and healthcare professionals in criminal and civil investigations and litigation of issues, including AKS, Stark regulations, physician supervision, medical necessity and billing practices
- Represents pharmaceutical industry entities in opioid investigations and litigation across the country involving the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and state attorney generals, among others
- Advises on a variety of administrative matters, including Corporate Integrity Agreements (CIAs) and Compliance Certification Agreements (CCAs) involving the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG)
- Reviews and analyzes healthcare entities' compliance programs
- Conducts numerous internal investigations and voluntary disclosure of potential healthcare fraud and abuse issues
- Defended clients in high-stakes and high-profile congressional investigations, including C-suite executives in public hearings related to opioids
- Defended clients in high-stakes and high-profile pension fund investigations
- Conducted internal investigations of potential Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations
- Counseled clients on a wide range of FCPA issues and compliance programs
- Secured declination of prosecution of a national newspaper and magazine distributor in connection with an investigation of alleged market allocation
- Represented clients in private civil treble damage and indirect purchaser litigation alleging antitrust violations, including price fixing and market allocation
- Defended a prominent Houston real estate agent who was involved in one of the first "off-the-books" Enron partnerships; obtained immunity for the client and dismissal of the civil litigation against her
- Represented prominent real estate developers charged with federal payroll tax violations and tax evasion
- Obtained successive federal appellate reversal of a conviction and sentence of an accountant accused of mail, wire and bank fraud
Credentials
- University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D.
- University of Pennsylvania, B.A., magna cum laude
- Pennsylvania
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- Philadelphia Bar Foundation, Board of Trustees, Board Member, President, 2012-2024
- American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section, White Collar Crime Committee, Qui Tam Subcommittee, National Co-Chair, 2020-Present
- Women's White Collar Defense Association, East Coast Region, Vice Chair, 2020-Present; Philadelphia Chapter, Chair, 2015-Present
- Union League of Philadelphia, Board Member and Vice President, 2020-2025
- Philadelphia City Institute, Emeritus Member
- University of Pennsylvania Association of Alumnae, Former President
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Criminal Justice Appointment Panel
- Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Hearing Committee Member
- Cambridge Forum Invitee
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Philadelphia, 2024-2025
- Chambers USA – America's Leading Business Lawyers guide, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, Pennsylvania (Band 1), 2024, 2025
- Chambers USA – America's Leading Business Lawyers guide, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, Pennsylvania, 2021-2023
- Philadelphia Business Journal, Best of the Bar: White Collar, 2019
- Lawyers on the Fast Track, The Legal Intelligencer, 2011
- Multiple Sclerosis Society Leadership Award, 2004
- Expert Guides: White Collar Crime
- Pennsylvania Rising Star Super Lawyer, Law & Politics Magazine
- Pennsylvania Rising Star Super Lawyer, Philadelphia Magazine
- Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow