Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Garrison B. Ambrose, Susan J. Dewey, and Kelly J. Kearney have joined the firm as associates in the Business Litigation group. Garrison and Susan join the firm’s Chicago office and Kelly joins the Washington, D.C. office. The new associates join the firm from Reed Smith LLP, reuniting with partners Rachael G. Pontikes, Emily L. Hussey, and Shannon E. McClure, who joined Blank Rome in February. Garrison, Susan, and Kelly represent clients in the life sciences and healthcare industries, strengthening the firm’s capabilities in these areas.
Garrison focuses his practices on healthcare regulatory and privacy law, with extensive experience in data protection laws. He provides comprehensive counsel on implementing and maintaining privacy and security programs, including drafting policies and procedures, performing privacy and risk assessments, and assisting with incident response. Garrison advises clients on cybersecurity requirements, standards, and incident preparedness, focusing on risk mitigation, breach notification strategies, and developing incident response plans and playbooks.
Garrison supports technology, healthcare, and life sciences clients with regulatory due diligence in transactional contexts, guiding management calls, identifying regulatory issues, and ensuring compliance with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”) and state regulations. He also assists clients with post-breach regulatory investigations and complex healthcare and product liability litigation.
Susan advises life sciences and healthcare clients, including outsourcing facilities, manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies, on the full range of healthcare regulations impacting companies operating in the industry. She guides clients through government inspections, investigations, and responses to Form 483s and warning letters, and manages recalls and regulatory meetings.
Susan has a particular focus on advising compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities on regulatory, enforcement, and litigation matters, successfully advocating before state and federal regulators. Susan frequently defends clients before state boards of pharmacy, where she has helped them obtain positive outcomes in disciplinary and administrative proceedings. She also assists her clients with regulatory due diligence in transactions, ensuring smooth transitions of state licenses.
Kelly focuses her practice on healthcare and life sciences law, providing strategic and regulatory advice to a diverse client base. She counsels healthcare platforms, compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities, clinical laboratories, and other members of the drug and medical device supply chain on navigating the complex and ever-evolving FDA, DEA, and state regulations that govern their operations and transactions.
Kelly specifically advises clients on advertising and promotion for drugs and dietary supplements, mergers and acquisitions, contracts, due diligence, regulatory approvals, and inspections and investigations. She also regularly counsels clients on telehealth compliance for health care providers, platforms, and pharmacies.
Garrison is admitted to practice in Illinois and received his J.D. from Howard University School of Law and his B.A. from the University of Virginia.
Admitted to practice in Illinois, Susan received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Chicago-Kent College of Law, and her B.A. from the University of Illinois. Susan has been recognized by Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America.
Kelly received her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and her B.A. from Boston University. She is admitted to practice in California and Illinois and is currently practicing in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office under the supervision of principals of the firm admitted in D.C., as well as in the firm’s Chicago office. Kelly has been recognized by Chambers USA.
