Stephanie Yonekura

Litigation, Arbitration & Employment

Los Angeles

As a Japanese American, Stephanie Yonekura's personal history is intertwined with the injustice faced by her family during World War II.

Her father was among the many who were interned during that dark period in American history and that chapter in her family's past fueled a fire within her -- a burning desire to right the wrongs of the past and ensure that justice prevails.

Yonekura oversees more than 150 attorneys in Hogan Lovells' global investigations, white-collar and fraud practices.

"I am part of a team that has successfully defended a healthcare company in several False Claims Act cases, including obtaining dismissals in three of those cases," she said. "These are significant matters because the Supreme Court has focused on the False Claims Act and issued opinions that has transformed this area of law over the last few years."

The case Yonekura mentioned was her team's victory for United Health Group's OptumRx. The case centered around a total of 32 federal and state FCA and fraud claims. A relator accused Yonekura's client of participating in a kickback scheme and making false representations concerning prescription drugs covered by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance plans.

The theory was innovative and had the potential to result in substantial penalties for the client. However, Yonekura and her team rose to the challenge. They argued in court that the relator had failed to establish a valid claim and convinced the Central District of California court to grant their motion to dismiss with prejudice. The judgment was entered in favor of the clients on the same day. The Ninth Circuit unanimously affirmed the lower court's decision to dismiss the case. Gharibian v. Valley Campus Pharm., 21-56253 (9th Cir. Jan. 17, 2023).

"The main obstacles in the False Claims Act cases are the evolving legal landscape in these bet-the-company cases that involve complicated factual backgrounds," Yonekura said.

Yonekura is also a dedicated member of the firm's Americas Diversity Committee, where she actively works towards promoting diversity and inclusion within the organization Her commitment to creating an inclusive environment is through her various initiatives and engagements.