Anne K. Walsh Director 202-737-4592
Anne K. Walsh
Practice Areas
Industries
FDA Regulatory Categories

Overview

Anne K. Walsh counsels clients on compliance and enforcement issues, including FDA inspections, seizure and injunction actions, warning letters, and recalls. She focuses on defending companies against allegations of fraud related to marketing and promotion, cGMP and QSR, health care, and clinical studies, with particular emphasis on cases involving joint criminal and civil investigations under the FDCA and the False Claims Act (FCA). She also has successfully sued the government for violating the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). She applies her enforcement expertise to aid companies in compliance efforts, via internal investigations or risk assessment audits.

Ms. Walsh also performs transactional work related to mergers and acquisitions involving pharmaceutical and medical device companies. She leads teams of attorneys in conducting a comprehensive FDA-related diligence, and advises clients on making determinations concerning the deal and its valuation.

Ms. Walsh joined the firm in 2011 after serving as Associate Chief Counsel with FDA’s Office of Chief Counsel from 2004 to 2010. At FDA, she worked with federal prosecutors and law enforcement agencies on civil and criminal violations of the FDCA. She won numerous awards for her work from FDA, the DOJ, the HHS Office of Inspector General, FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, and U.S. Attorney’s Offices. Before joining FDA, Ms. Walsh represented pharmaceutical and medical device clients at a major international law firm in D.C.

Education & Admissions

Education

J.D., William & Mary Law School
B.A., Economics, College of William & Mary

Admissions

District of Columbia
New York

Experience

Government Investigations

  • Sought and won dismissal of a civil qui tam matter alleging FCA violations against Orthofix, a medical device manufacturer.
  • Conducted an internal investigation at a mid-sized OTC drug product manufacturer to minimize exposure against a potential whistleblower complaint.
  • Obtained a declination of federal criminal prosecution on behalf of an OTC drug manufacturer related to allegations of off-label promotion of its product.
  • Negotiated with HHS Office of Inspector General on behalf of a drug manufacturer to avoid a Corporate Integrity Agreement or potential exclusion based on a conviction related to off-label promotion.
  • Negotiated on behalf of a software application developer a 90% reduction from the original demand made by the New York State Attorney General’s Office for alleged violations of New York consumer protection law based on health-related claims.

FDA Compliance and Enforcement

  • Prepared responses to FDA for Agfa, a medical device manufacturer, concerning inspections of its domestic and international sites, and obtained prompt closeouts of those inspections.
  • Prepared a warning letter response to FDA on behalf of a South Korean device manufacturer, using Korean language skills to translate for the company, its customers, and FDA.
  • Successfully challenged FDA under the APA for acting arbitrarily and capriciously in a classification decision, on behalf of PREVOR, a medical device client.

Corporate Transactions

  • Advised Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., the largest generic drug manufacturer in Japan by sales, in a $736 million   deal to acquire Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  • Conducted due diligence on behalf of the acquiring company for an asset purchase involving 15 different drug products.
  • Provided advisory services to Owens & Minor on regulatory matters in acquisition of Halyard Health, Inc.’s Surgical & Infection Prevention business, at a purchase price of $710 million in cash.
  • Advised venture capital firm on deal to acquire mid-sized company specializing in the manufacture of component parts used in implantable medical devices and finished medical devices.
  • Conducted diligence on behalf of Chinese company to acquire a U.S. medical device manufacturer of surgical and dental instruments.

 

 

Honors & Awards

  • DOJ Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service
    DOJ’s highest award for employee performance
    2010
  • Award of Appreciation
    FDA Office of Criminal Investigations
    2010
  • Award of Recognition
    U.S. Attorney’s Office, E.D.N.Y.
    2010
  • Cooperative Achievement Award
    HHS Office of Inspector General
    2010
  • Group Recognition Award
    FDA
    2010
  • Commissioner’s Special Citation
    FDA
    2009
  • Award of Recognition and Appreciation
    U.S. Attorney’s Office, N.D. Cal.
    2009
  • Outstanding Service Award
    FDA
    2008
  • Director’s Award for Superior Performance
    Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys
    2006
  • Cooperative Achievement Award
    Office of Inspector General
    2006
  • Award of Merit
    FDA
    2005

Speaking Engagements

  • Customer Centric Medical Information Conference, Interpreting New Guidance Based on Risk Tolerance, July 24-25, 2017
  • Customer Centric Medical Information Conference, Product Communication Consistent  With Label & First Amendment Considerations, July 24-25, 2017
Education

J.D., William & Mary Law School
B.A., Economics, College of William & Mary

Admissions

District of Columbia
New York

Practice Areas
Industries
FDA Regulatory Categories