Justin M. Puleo has been practicing health law for over ten years and is national co–chair of the Health Care Regulatory and Transactional Practice Group. His work focuses primarily in this area (see practice area link). He routinely manages corporate health care deals involving joint ventures (at times with private equity investment) and counsels health care providers and clinical researchers to identify and resolve regulatory compliance issues. All of the above is done with a view to maintain business operations in the era of health reform and during the unique challenges presented by COVID-19 States of Emergency. He is deeply knowledgeable in the areas of Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, EKRA, Corporate Practice of Medicine, False Claims Act, HIPAA, Medicare Conditions of Participation, Certificate of Need, Joint Commission requirements, and OIG investigations, among other areas.
Typically working directly with practice leaders and health care CEOs, drawing from his decade-plus of experience, Justin is well versed in offering succinct and practical operational advice. He has represented a broad spectrum of health care professionals and entities, including but not limited to: hospitals, health systems, management service organizations, long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, home health agencies, hospices, federally qualified health centers, rural health centers, behavioral health facilities, large physician practices, medical spas, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging facilities, solo physicians, and other health care providers. In addition to his focus on health law, Justin has counseled multiple clinical research entities regarding FDA requirements and is also a registered patent attorney and DRC Certified Mediator (inactive) and can identify issues for clients in these areas.
Justin is a native of Pinehurst, North Carolina and comes from a family of health care providers. Both of his parents are physicians, his sisters are a dentist and a psychologist respectively, his aunt and sister-in-law are physician assistants, his grandmother was a nurse, and his grandfather was a veterinarian. Justin’s wife, Merab, is also an attorney and is Associate Director of Global Investigator Contract Solutions at IQVIA. They live in Northwest Raleigh with their daughter Annabelle, son Jenkins, and dog Obie.
Admissions
- North Carolina
- North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission, Certified Mediator (inactive)
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina
Memberships
- American Health Lawyers Association
- North Carolina Bar Association, Health Law Section Leadership Council (2017-2020)
- Tenth Judicial District Bar and Wake County Bar Association
Community Involvement
- Ongoing participation in various charity drives and benefits
- Seven Oaks Swim & Racquet Club, member since 2021
- Patriot Boot Camp, assisted in obtaining mentors and sponsorship for Chapel Hill event helping military families form startup companies, July 2015
- Judge, National High School Mock Trial Tournament, May 2015
- Alumnus Feature in UNC School of Law Pro Bono Program Newsletter for work as an HHS Certified Marketplace Navigator with Legal Aid of North Carolina, 2014
- Announcer, 7th Annual Bar Awards and Silent Auction, helped raise $53,000.00 to benefit Legal Aid of North Carolina, October 2014
- The Alexander Family YMCA, Hillsborough St. Raleigh, 2013-18