Attorney and Biopharma Strategist Richard Hughes Returns to Epstein Becker Green in Washington, DC

Washington, DC (June 13, 2022) – Epstein Becker Green is pleased to announce that Richard H. Hughes IV has joined as a Member of the Firm in the Health Care & Life Sciences practice in Washington, DC. Richard leverages his background as a health insurance lawyer and health care policy executive to assist pharmaceutical, biotech, and health care provider entities in navigating a broad range of legal, regulatory, and policy issues. Richard has been instrumental in expanding access to vaccines and preventive services that improve public health outcomes.

An attorney in Epstein Becker Green’s Health Care & Life Sciences practice from 2014 to 2016, Richard returns to the firm after serving as Managing Director and Vaccines & Preventative Services Leader at Avalere Health, a health care advisory services firm, and then as Vice President of Public Policy at Moderna.

“Former in-house talent like Richard brings hands-on industry perspectives in coverage and access issues,” said Mark Lutes, Chair of EBG’s Board of Directors. “Richard’s combination of legal and biopharma executive experience will be a great asset to the firm’s health and life sciences industry clients.”

Richard counsels pharmaceutical and device companies, plans, health care providers, and national governments. He offers guidance on coverage, payment, legal, and regulatory issues across all health care markets and sources of public and private coverage. Richard’s approach is often multidisciplinary. Through Epstein Becker Green’s EBG Advisors consultancy, he will combine legal, consulting, and data analysis to build comprehensive market strategies for life sciences companies’ product development and growth.  

“Richard’s recent experience building out the public policy division at a major pharmaceutical and biotechnology company amid the COVID-19 pandemic builds upon a skill set that few others in his position have,” said George B. Breen, Chair of Epstein Becker Green’s National Health Care & Life Sciences Steering Committee.

“When I was presented with the opportunity to return to my former firm, the decision was easy,” said Richard. “Epstein Becker Green’s thought leadership in health care has always made it a special place. Its Health Care & Life Sciences practice has only grown during my time in-house, and I’m eager to bring a new breadth of experience. Among other things, I am excited to dive back in with colleagues and the firm’s clients on critical post-COVID coverage, payment, and public health issues and to develop proactive strategies that improve access to health care. I also remain passionate about the reformation/expansion of preventive services coverage.”

Before becoming an attorney, Richard served in several health policy leadership roles. He was a gubernatorial appointee to the Arkansas State Board of Health, where he deliberated regulatory policy, co-presided over appeals before the state health department, and actively spoke on numerous health policy issues. Richard then served as Director of State Health Policy at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials in Washington, DC, and later as Associate Director of Policy with Merck. In these roles, Richard regularly interacted with and advised state and national policymakers and health leaders on a wide range of issues, including public health policy, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act.

Richard is a Professorial Lecturer in Law at The George Washington University Law School and a former Professorial Lecturer in Health Policy & Management at the Milken Institute School of Public Health. During law school, Richard served as a legal research assistant to Professor Sara Rosenbaum, renowned health law scholar and Founding Chair of the Department of Health Policy at the Milken Institute School of Public Health. Richard is a member of the national Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health.

Epstein Becker Green continues to grow across its 18 offices nationwide. Richard’s addition to the firm further exemplifies recent growth in the Health Care & Life Sciences practice, following the additions of Lisa Gora, Glenn Prives, Carter DeLorme, the firm’s health care construction law group in Nashville, and a team that recently joined in Columbus and Cincinnati.

About Epstein Becker Green

Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., is a national law firm with a primary focus on health care and life sciences; employment, labor, and workforce management; and litigation and business disputes. Founded in 1973 as an industry-focused firm, Epstein Becker Green has decades of experience serving clients in health care, financial services, retail, hospitality, and technology, among other industries, representing entities from startups to Fortune 100 companies. Operating in locations throughout the United States and supporting domestic and multinational clients, the firm’s attorneys are committed to uncompromising client service and legal excellence.  For more information, visit www.ebglaw.com.