Washington, DC – January 8, 2026 – Stephanie Hales has joined Cooley’s Washington, DC, office as a partner in the firm’s global life sciences and healthcare regulatory practice. Hales counsels clients across the life sciences industry on significant healthcare legislative, compliance and regulatory developments – particularly around issues of coverage, reimbursement, market access and drug pricing – and the impact of these critical topics on corporate strategy and decision-making.

Hales arrives from Sidley Austin, where she most recently served as a partner in the healthcare and government strategies groups. During her 18-year career, Hales has advised clients on a range of matters affecting pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, digital health and diagnostics companies, as well as other organizations in the life sciences industry. Her deep experience advising on coverage, coding, reimbursement and drug pricing matters includes addressing issues related to the Affordable Care Act, Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare and Medicaid programs, and the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Her arrival strengthens Cooley’s ability to respond to growing client demand on increasingly complex issues in the healthcare regulatory arena.

“We are thrilled to add Stephanie to our expanding life sciences and healthcare regulatory team,” said Sonia Nath, Cooley partner and chair of the firm’s global life sciences and healthcare regulatory practice. “As drug pricing and reimbursement issues increasingly shape corporate strategy, Stephanie’s extensive background in these areas will be a major benefit to our clients, who rely on Cooley to advise them not only on key terms in transactions, but also when to raise these issues with regulators, and how to navigate the litigation and enforcement landscape.”

“Patient access to innovative healthcare treatments and services depends on meaningful coverage and reimbursement, appropriate coding, and thoughtful appreciation and navigation of drug pricing issues,” said Hales. “I am passionate about collaborating with clients to address these and other key issues, and I am excited to join the phenomenal Cooley team to support clients in this evolving environment.”

Hales’ arrival, along with that of Eric Greig, who joined Cooley as a partner in April 2025 from Latham, enhances the firm’s ability to seamlessly cover all aspects of coverage and reimbursement issues related to life sciences companies. Like Greig, Hales will also partner closely with Cooley litigators on Administrative Procedure Act and appellate litigation to deliver integrated and cohesive counsel to healthcare and life sciences clients. Along with Hales and Greig, Cooley’s healthcare team has been further enhanced by the return of Jennifer Shanley to the practice group, from McGuire Woods.

Cooley’s market-leading life sciences practice spans the gamut of regulatory, corporate and litigation services provided by lawyers who have extensive US and global experience counseling on a range of complex regulatory matters, advising on intricate deals, conducting investigations, and representing clients in litigation involving these issues.

The firm has represented top global life sciences companies for 40+ years and advises entities across the industry landscape – currently serving as trusted counsel to 2,500+ public and private life sciences company clients worldwide. Cooley is consistently ranked as a leading player in the field by Law360, LMG Life Sciences, Chambers, The Legal 500 and others. Most recently, Chambers USA ranked Cooley’s life sciences and healthcare regulatory practice, and the firm was recognized as Life Sciences Team of the Year as part of the Legal Business Awards 2025. Law360 also named Cooley Practice Group of the Year for life sciences.

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