Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, a multidisciplinary, integrated professional services firm, announced today the advancement of ten professionals, effective January 1, 2024—one attorney to equity partnership, four attorneys to partnership, three consultants to managing directors and two attorneys to counsel.
“These ten professionals have displayed exceptional client service, collaboration and drive, making them integral figures in Manatt’s mission to redefine what it means to be a professional services firm,” said Manatt CEO and Managing Partner Donna Wilson. “Each of them exemplify the potential of the next generation of leaders, and we are excited to continue supporting them as we further strengthen our culture focused on professional development and innovation.”
The following professional has been elected as equity partner of the Firm:
- Kinda Serafi – Equity Partner / Manatt Health / New York
An established health care leader, Serafi has sophisticated experience advising clients—from state governments to foundations, managed care plans, providers, nonprofit agencies, tech companies and IT vendors—on the legal, policy and operational challenges impacting the quickly evolving industry at both the state and federal levels. Her work frequently consists of leading complex multistakeholder engagement efforts. Serafi received her J.D. from the University at Buffalo School of Law.
The following professionals were elected partners or managing directors of the Firm:
- Hailey Davis – Managing Director / Manatt Health / New York
Davis provides policy analysis, strategic and regulatory advice, and project oversight to a wide range of clients on issues related to implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the transition of benefits and populations to Medicaid managed care. Her work has focused on advising states, foundations, payers, providers and other health care stakeholders on the implications of federal health reform and the redesign of state Medicaid programs. Davis received her M.P.H. in health policy and management from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
- Paul Heeringa – Partner / Consumer Protection and Advertising / Chicago
Heeringa advocates for individuals and corporations in a variety of industries—including telecommunications, advertising, sales and marketing, lead generation, health care, retail, banking, credit reporting, financial services, technology, software, entertainment, and insurance—facing Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) litigation in state or federal court. His practice includes defending TCPA class actions as well as defending other TCPA-related and similar complex civil litigation, insurance coverage matters, enforcement matters, and corporate lawsuits. Heeringa received his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, summa cum laude.
- Kevin McAvey – Managing Director / Manatt Health / New York
With deep experience in economics and quantitative methods, McAvey creates data-driven health care solutions—such as alternative payment models and other innovative payment and delivery systems—for payers, providers, and state and local governments. Working with clients and client leads to collect, manage and analyze large datasets, he builds and implements models to predict the impact of health reform initiatives on coverage, payment, utilization and stakeholders’ costs. McAvey received his M.S. in applied economics from Cornell University and his M.P.P. in public policy and economic analysis from Georgetown University.
- John Meller – Partner / Manatt Entertainment / Los Angeles
Meller’s practice focuses on music transactions, including negotiating and drafting agreements in the music industry. An advocacy committee member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, he campaigns for the rights of music creators, organizing advocacy and leading meetings with members of Congress for various grassroots events. Meller received his J.D. from UCLA School of Law.
- Alex Morin – Managing Director / Manatt Health / Washington, D.C.
Morin provides strategic business and policy advice, as well as planning, process analysis and implementation services to health care providers, payers and other organizations. His project work focuses on health system strategy and planning, academic health system transformation, post-acute care organization and strategy, and biomedical research institutional organization and strategy. Morin received his M.A. in political science from Texas A&M University, summa cum laude.
- Stephanie Roeser – Partner / Employment and Labor / Los Angeles
Roeser represents clients in a wide variety of employment and commercial litigation matters, including litigation defense of wage-and-hour class actions as well as single-plaintiff discrimination and retaliation matters. She also represents employers before state and federal administrative agencies and advises employers on employment issues and best practices. Roeser received her J.D. from the UC Law San Francisco.
- Che Salinas – Partner / Government and Regulatory / Sacramento
Salinas advises clients on complex political matters in addition to legal, legislative and fiscal issues across numerous policy areas, including health care, pharmaceutical manufacturing, transportation, public utilities, taxation and energy policy. In this capacity, he appears before state agencies, regulatory bodies and the California Legislature to advance client objectives. He also advises and collaborates with an array of business industries and trade associations in those efforts. Salinas received his J.D. from the UC Davis School of Law.
The following professionals were promoted to counsel:
- David McGrath – Counsel / Environment / Orange County
McGrath’s practice focuses on an extensive variety of regulatory and transactional matters involving hazardous waste, air quality and climate change, energy projects, land use and development, water quality, and related government compliance issues. He received his J.D. from the UCLA School of Law.
- Benjamin Strauss – Counsel / Litigation / Los Angeles
Strauss’ practice includes complex business litigation, class actions, and appeals involving intellectual property, technology, entertainment, unfair competition, and real estate issues. He has comprehensive experience in all phases of civil litigation in federal and California state courts. Strauss received his J.D. from the UCLA School of Law and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Milan D. Smith, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.