Crowell & Moring Partner Arthur Lerner, Preeminent Health Care Antitrust Attorney, Passes at Age 65

Washington, D.C. – November 11, 2016: Crowell & Moring LLP is saddened to announce that partner Arthur N. Lerner, a preeminent health care antitrust lawyer and a founding partner of Crowell & Moring’s Health Care Group, passed away on November 8, 2016. He was 65.

Mr. Lerner was a dean of the health care bar, recognized by peers and clients alike. He began his legal career with 10 years of public service at the Federal Trade Commission. From 1982 to 1985, Mr. Lerner directed the FTC’s health care antitrust program. Once in private practice, Mr. Lerner focused his work on antitrust, health reform, transactions, and fraud and abuse issues for health plans, hospitals, and other health care entities.

Mr. Lerner joined Crowell & Moring in 2000 with a group of 16 lawyers from the law firm of Michaels & Bonner. He served as co-chair of Crowell & Moring’s Health Care practice from 2002 to 2015. With Mr. Lerner’s leadership, the practice grew into one of the most respected health care practices in the United States.

During his more than 30 years of private practice, Mr. Lerner represented nearly every large health insurer in the nation, including Aetna, Cigna, Coventry Health Care, Humana, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare, and he was involved in a large number of health care and antitrust matters that have shaped the health care industry.

Mr. Lerner’s leadership within the health care bar and his devotion to public service were widely felt. He served as a member of the Board of Directors (2008-2014) and Executive Committee (2013-2014) of the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) and as chair (2004-2007) of the Antitrust Practice Group of AHLA. He was also former chair of the American Bar Association Antitrust Section's Federal Civil Enforcement Committee (2006-2007) and FTC Committee (2004-2006).

Crowell & Moring chair Angela B. Styles said, “Art represented the very best of our firm. He served as an advisor, counselor, and advocate for the leading companies in the health care industry. He was committed to developing our associates, and he was a longtime advocate for our efforts to build a more diverse practice group and firm. He leaves a tremendous legacy at Crowell & Moring and for the health care bar.”

Crowell & Moring partner John T. Brennan, Jr., the former co-chair of Crowell & Moring’s Health Care Group, said, “Art was a tremendous lawyer, and he was also a great leader who genuinely cared about others. Art was as thoughtful about people as he was about the law.”

Crowell & Moring partner Wm. Randolph Smith, chair of the firm’s Antitrust Group, said, “Art had a brilliant legal mind that always offered a uniquely ‘Art’ analysis and approach to every problem. He brought real creativity and passion to his work, and a special kind of joy. Art was also an excellent business man, and his business was people—the people at the firm and the people at his clients. That’s what he cared about in his practice, and it is what made him successful. He garnered absolute respect and trust from his clients and from all of us at the firm.”

Mr. Lerner was born in 1951 and raised in Toledo, Ohio. He resided in Chevy Chase, Md. He earned his A.B. from University of Michigan, and his J.D. from Harvard Law School, magna cum laude. Mr. Lerner was the devoted husband of Linda Dreeben. In addition to his wife, Mr. Lerner is survived by two sons, Benjamin and Zachary; grandson Liam; and daughters-in-law Melissa and Alana.

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with approximately 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity. The firm has offices in Washington, DC, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, Anchorage, London, and Brussels.