Hancock, Daniel & Johnson is pleased to announce the promotion of four new partners, effective January 1, 2023: Melissa P. Reading, Kyle R. René, Jessica A. Swauger, and Benjamin H. Traynham. Three of the new partners are based in the firm’s Richmond office, and one in the Johnson City office.
Melissa represents companies and individuals in civil tort litigation, primarily medical malpractice defense. She defends healthcare providers from pre-suit investigation through appeal, as well as assisting them with other interactions with the civil legal system such as navigating depositions, responding to subpoenas and requests for records, and government and medical board investigations.
Kyle represents post-acute and long-term care providers in matters impacting compliance, reimbursement, and licensing. From nursing homes and assisted living providers, to hospices, rehabilitation providers, durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers, home health Agencies (HHAs), providers of diagnostic services, and individual professionals, Kyle focuses on matters impacting reimbursement under Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance, as well as Medicare requirements of participation/conditions of participation and licensure requirements under state law. He has worked with clients in transactional and internal compliance matters, and also appeared before state and federal regulatory and licensing bodies for formal and informal administrative matters, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and state professional licensing boards.
Jessica’s practice focuses on the representation of healthcare clients in a wide range of disputes, including those involving insurance coverage and liability. Jessica’s understanding of high stakes litigation, combined with her collaborative approach to client services, enables her to effectively address and resolve the legal issues of Hancock Daniel clients.
Whether representing health care providers in administrative hearings or lobbying the General Assembly, Ben draws upon his unique experience to provide tailored service to clients. Understanding the intersection of government and industry, he is able to apply that knowledge to solve complex issues facing clients.
