Ryan Hassanein is a partner in the Litigation Department of Morrison & Foerster’s San Francisco office. He is Co-Chair of the firm’s national False Claims Act Task Force and a member of its Securities Litigation, Government Enforcement, and White-Collar Defense Group. His practice focuses on healthcare fraud litigation and investigations, including False Claims Act suits initiated by “whistle-blowers,” the Department of Justice, and state Attorneys General. Mr. Hassanein has substantial expertise in matters related to pharmaceutical price reporting and the Anti-Kickback Statute. He advises clients in connection with internal investigations, due diligence arising from potential mergers and acquisitions, responses to Government subpoenas, and the defense of private suits based on allegations of fraud on private insurance plans.
Mr. Hassanein also represents clients in complex litigation stemming from alleged violations of federal and state RICO legislation, and state unfair competition laws. He has extensive experience representing companies, Board committees, and officers and directors in securities class actions, shareholder derivative suits, SEC inquiries, and criminal probes by the Justice Department. His experience crosses a wide range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, software, computer hardware, telecommunications, and financial services.
Mr. Hassanein received a B.A. degree in Philosophy from Colgate University and his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. While at Hastings, he served as senior editor of the Hastings Law Journal. He also externed for the Honorable Joseph C. Spero, U.S. magistrate judge for the Northern District of California, and the Honorable Janice R. Brown, when she was a Justice of the California Supreme Court.
Mr. Hassanein is admitted to practice in California, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Central, Southern, and Eastern Districts of California, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Representative Matters
False Claims Act Litigation
- Representing an independent auditor in a qui tam suit filed against the auditor and one of the largest for-profit educational institutions. The complaint, filed on behalf of the United States, alleges False Claims Act violations based on the education company's allegedly false certifications of compliance with regulations promulgated by the U.S. Department of Education.
- Representing a national pharmaceutical wholesaler in a series of False Claims Act investigations and suits concerning alleged pharmaceutical pricing fraud on federal and state healthcare programs.
- Representing a government contractor in a False Claims Act investigation arising from allegations that the contractor falsely certified compliance with regulations promulgated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Represented a national pharmaceutical wholesaler and obtained an early dismissal for the client in a qui tam suit alleging violations of the False Claims Act predicated on violations of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and pharmaceutical pricing fraud.
Internal Investigations
- Represented a network of cancer clinics in an internal investigation regarding alleged Medicare fraud and prompted by a “whistle-blower” complaint to the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Represented the audit committee of a telecommunications equipment maker in an internal investigation concerning alleged insider trading, improper revenue recognition, and understated reserves for excess and obsolete inventories.
Securities Litigation & SEC Investigations
- Represented JDS Uniphase in the largest securities class action ever tried to verdict in the United States. Plaintiffs sought damages in excess of $20 billion, but after a four-week trial and two days of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict on behalf of JDSU and four of its former executives.
- Represented an asset manager of two offshore hedge funds in a series of formal SEC investigations, and related administrative proceedings.
Arbitration Proceedings
- Represented a healthcare technology company in an international arbitration proceeding before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
- Represented an online travel tour company in an arbitration proceeding before the American Arbitration Association (AAA).