Stacie K. Neroni

As an expert in the labyrinthine regulatory structure governing pharmacies, Neroni of healthcare and life sciences specialty law firm Nelson Hardiman LLP is often retained by other law firms handling M&A pharmacy transactions.

“Healthcare and its regulatory environment is incredibly complex, often with highly localized regulations, so I do work for all kinds of providers,” said Neroni, who moved to Nelson Hardiman in 2018 from Hooper, Lundy & Bookman PC.

Less than a year later, Neroni was appointed Nelson Hardiman’s co-managing partner. She said she and other new hires were attracted to the firm’s entrepreneurial philosophy and team spirit, which feels different from that of larger, more traditional health care law firms in Los Angeles.

Healthcare at Nelson Hardiman “wasn’t just a department of a larger firm,” she said. “We do the work at more competitive rates and don’t throw as many bodies on a project as big law. Clients can utilize all services, we are a one-stop shop.”

Neroni recently provided California regulatory licensing and enrollment advice on a $163 million acquisition for a confidential client of a home health agency and two specialty infusion pharmacies that operate in 47 states. She provided the California-specific guidance necessary for the client to fit in and comply with the regulatory filing and operations requirements that would ensure uninterrupted operations and avoid disruptions in service to the current patients or negative impacts on reimbursements applicable for those services.

“Many clients are enrolled or licensed in all states, yet the hoops they need to jump through are localized,” Neroni said. “The problem is that the consequences for doing something wrong are extremely punitive. The penalties can have a massive monetary impact if things don’t happen timely and accurately, with carefully timed disclosures — or you can be barred for years. It’s a very technical area. California is one of the top five states in complexity. I usually get involved for a provider on the California side of a deal.”

She got involved in the field right out of law school, she said.

“Just doing it day in and day out, that’s how you get familiar with the field,” Neroni said. “Now I represent a lot of providers who know I will make the road smooth for them.”

Neroni and her team represented a leading home infusion and specialty pharmacy provider in its $400,000 acquisition of a California based home health agency. The team led the due diligence review, document negotiation, document drafting and closing in a deal that closed in less than five weeks from start to finish.

“It’s interesting. I like doing puzzles,” Neroni said. “Every day I get to figure out how to solve them for clients.”

— John Roemer