Medical Malpractice

Vaslas Lepowsky Hauss is a premier civil litigation law firm with deep experience and expertise in the defense of medical negligence claims against physicians, hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities.  Our attorneys have been recognized as leaders in healthcare litigation and remain at the forefront of this specialized area of practice.

Our sustained focus on medical defense litigation has given us a keen understanding and extraordinary proficiency in this area of the law.  Having represented virtually every medical specialty, we have amassed a significant base of medical knowledge.  Indeed, several of our attorneys are former healthcare professionals who share the unique perspectives of our clients.

We recognize the high stakes involved when allegations of malpractice are advanced against a physician, nurse, hospital, long-term care facility or any healthcare provider.  As trial attorneys, we take our craft seriously and are poised to protect our clients both in and out of the courtroom.  Our genuine passion, ability to communicate, and willingness to thoroughly and creatively prepare for trial have consistently yielded positive results for our clients.  We’ve built a reputation for success in the courtroom that is well known by our clients and adversaries alike.

Nursing Home and Long-Term Care Facilities

At VLH, our team of skilled attorneys has substantial experience defending nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care facilities.  The firm’s extensive background in medicine has proven invaluable in providing effective nursing home defense services and managing the unique legal and factual issues presented in long-term care litigation.  We understand the special concerns and issues involved with the representation of these facilities, and recognize the balance between the residents’ needs and the nursing home’s right to a fair presentation of its treatment, care and concern for its patients.  We represent our clients on a wide range of issues, including nursing care, nursing assessment, chain of command, premises liability, security and safety issues, staff privileging issues and medical records regulations.  Our attorneys regularly speak to long-term care industry groups and facilities regarding risk management, litigation prevention and documentation.

Disciplinary Proceedings and Professional Licensing

The attorneys at VLH regularly counsel and represent licensed healthcare professionals before regulatory boards in New York and New Jersey, including the Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) in New York and the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners.  Our experienced attorneys possess an extensive knowledge of the laws and regulations governing the medical profession, the investigative and regulatory processes, and the informal and formal conference proceedings.  We understand the rigorous demands of the healthcare profession and the importance of maintaining our clients’ reputations within their communities.  Always sensitive to the needs and difficulties our healthcare clients face concerning board inquiries, our attorneys stand ready to provide excellent legal representation when it matters most.

Products Liability

At VLH, we are experienced in assessing risk and defending clients faced with products liability claims.  Our success in this highly specialized area of litigation is built upon our attorneys’ superior litigation skills and ability to thoroughly grasp the scientific and technical issues involved in each case.  And because we are so thoroughly familiar with the federal and state courts and their decision trends, we are well positioned to successfully evaluate exposure and defend manufacturers, distributors and resellers against defective products claims.  Our attorneys stay abreast of rapidly developing changes in the law, medico-legal literature, technology and the latest theories of liability advanced by experienced plaintiffs’ attorneys.  A combination of skill, knowledge and strategic litigation planning enables us to provide our clients with a superior, cost-efficient defense and the best possible outcomes.

Premises Liability

Our firm has defended numerous institutions, companies and individuals in lawsuits arising out of personal injuries that occur on client premises.  We work closely with our clients to manage risk by assessing their premises, policies and operations as well as the causes and mechanisms of injury.  Our attorneys also craft preventative strategies for our clients to help avoid future claims.

Appellate Practice

The groundwork for a successful appeal begins with a strong foundation established at trial.  Our appellate attorneys provide advice and guidance in the evaluation, development and advocacy of our clients’ interests in the interlocutory and post-trial phases of their cases.  Our attorneys are thoroughly experienced in preparing and presenting briefs and oral arguments.  In addition, we employ the unique insights gained from our deep experience with the appellate courts in the development of appellate strategies and tactics.

Insurance Coverage

Our insurance coverage attorneys have substantial experience in interpreting contracts of all kinds and representing insurers in complex coverage claims.  Our experience includes monitoring, mediations, arbitrations and declaratory relief litigation in state and federal courts in New York and New Jersey.  Our attorneys include former staff counsel, and a significant amount of our work emanates from insurance company claims and legal departments.  VLH’s close ties to the insurance industry and industry experience promote mutual trust and respect between our attorneys and insurer clients.

Risk Management

In addition to healthcare defense litigation, we provide risk management counseling and seminar services to our physician, hospital and nursing home clients.  VLH has a long tradition of partnering with hospitals, physicians and medical practices throughout New York and New Jersey to ensure that optimum patient care is delivered within the parameters of our complex legal environment.

Corporate Practice

Our lawyers have successfully handled thousands of transactions and matters related to dispute resolution, including litigation and arbitration, designed to achieve the goals and meet the needs of companies, financial institutions, investors, directors and executives.  We also have provided advice and counsel with respect to a myriad of non-transactional corporate and business matters.

Financial Services Practice

  • Formation and structuring of hedge funds
  • Structuring of investment advisors and investment management entities
  • Investment advisory registrations with the SEC
  • Commodity pool operator registrations with the NFA
  • Structuring and formation of on-shore and off-shore funds
  • Master-feeder funds
  • Formation of joint back office arrangements

Joint Ventures and Venture Capital

  • Formation and financing of independent joint venture entities
  • Corporate partnering arrangements
  • Formation and financing of start-up ventures
  • Representation of venture capital firms

Broker-Dealer Practice

  • Formation, acquisition, sale and registration of broker-dealer firms
  • Joint venture and joint account agreements
  • Firm trader and employment agreements
  • Industry and customer arbitrations before the NASD, NYSE and AMEX

Corporate Healthcare Practice

  • Formation, acquisition and sale of private medical practices
  • Provider (exclusive service) agreements for hospital-based medical practices
  • Operating agreements, partnership agreements and shareholder agreements
  • Representation of physicians in practice and employment disputes

Mergers and Acquisitions

  • Representation of purchasers and sellers, both corporate and individual
  • Asset and stock transactions
  • Domestic and off-shore transactions
  • Tax planning and structuring

General Corporate Practice

  • Structuring and formation of business entities
  • Contract review, drafting and interpretation
  • Shareholder agreements, operating agreements, partnership agreements and employment agreements

Commercial Litigation

VLH has a broad commercial litigation practice.  Our attorneys regularly try cases in state and federal courts, arbitrate before all major tribunals and administrative agencies, mediate before quasi-judicial and private industry ADR tribunals, and prepare and argue appeals.  Areas of particular expertise include:

  • Contract disputes and joint ventures
  • Partnership and shareholder disputes for private practices and closely held businesses
  • Employment litigation
  • Products liability litigation
  • Environmental and toxic tort litigation
  • Copyright, trademark and trade secret litigation

Trusts and Estates

Our firm is dedicated to providing clients with a full range of services associated with estate planning and estate administration.  We have handled the administration of substantial estates for successful professionals and prominent entertainers.  Our attorneys have significant experience in will contests, contested accountings and missing or lost will proceedings.

Real Estate

Our firm’s broad-based real estate practice includes the acquisition of land and commercial properties, construction loans, finance and residential real estate transactions.  We regularly represent clients in lease transactions as well as sponsors in condominium and cooperative apartment conversions.

Our attorneys have handled hundreds of residential and commercial real estate closings, and both individual and corporate clients have benefited from the firm’s broad real estate expertise.  Our lawyers have handled commercial real estate acquisitions, restructuring of mortgage loans, commercial and residential sales, and structuring of debt and equity facilities.  Whether serving individual owners of residential real estate or developers, investment funds and financial institutions, we provide creative and productive real estate solutions in a cost-effective manner.

Employment and Labor

VLH handles all facets of employment and labor law issues, including executive compensation and severance agreements, employment agreements, restrictive covenants, confidentiality and trade secret matters.