Lisa M. Noller

Partner

Lisa Noller gets results.

A trial lawyer and investigator in our Chicago office, Lisa is chair of the firm’s national Litigation Department and Government Enforcement Defense & Investigations Practice. She works closely with Foley’s Health Care, Regulatory, and Securities Practices and is a former member of the firm’s National Management Committee.

She has spent over 25 years investigating, litigating, and trying complex criminal and civil cases, responding to government investigations, conducting corporate internal investigations, and persuading the government not to pursue clients. As a member of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers since 2015, Lisa has been recognized for her trial success in over 30 civil and criminal trials in state and federal courts. She represents companies and individuals in parallel civil and criminal proceedings initiated by government agencies, and proactively counsels clients in enforcement and other litigation matters.

Lisa is particularly renowned for her excellence in healthcare litigation. She represents providers in helping them navigate the False Claims Act and criminal matters, including Anti-kickback Statute (AKS), PPP loans and Managed Care/Medicare Advantage issues. Lisa has served as a private mediator in an AKS dispute, and she was appointed special master for discovery in a complex tax shelter and fraud case.

“[Lisa] is very knowledgeable in the health care regulatory area,” according to Chambers and Partners USA. “Clients love her – she’s very personable, she’s bright and she knows this space incredibly well.”

“[Lisa] really knows about government investigations. She is very knowledgeable and to-the-point with her advice,” according to Thomson Reuters.

“[Lisa] is one of the best lawyers in Chicago. She has impeccable judgment and is a tremendous trial lawyer.”

Lisa is widely known for her handling of False Claims Act litigation, public corruption charges, and other high-stakes fraud matters. Sources label her “an exceptional attorney in the area of healthcare.” Clients note:

“[Lisa] keeps us well informed, is pragmatic in her approach and keeps things moving along.” – Chambers and Partners USA 

Lisa utilizes her extensive experience as a former civil and criminal prosecutor to defend health care and life science clients against false claims allegations. Clients note:

“She’s a preeminent person in Chicago’s FCA space.”

Lisa is frequently sought nationally and locally to be an author, speaker, panelist, and conference organizer on topics related to False Claims Act defense, government investigations, and white-collar criminal defense, among other topics. She is a lecturer in law at the University of Chicago Law School, where she founded and teaches the Prosecution and Defense Clinic and is a member of the Law School Council. She also is an adjunct professor at Northwestern Law School, where she teaches trial advocacy.

Prior to joining Foley, Lisa was an assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago, where she worked in both the civil and criminal divisions of the office. She was a member of the U.S. attorney’s team dedicated to the prosecution of healthcare fraud in Northern Illinois, and she has worked on numerous complex fraud cases as well as parallel investigations with other agencies, including HHS-OIG, NIH, and the SEC. Lisa served as a deputy chief in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, most recently in the Financial Crimes and Special Prosecutions Section, where she prosecuted complex federal criminal cases from investigation through appeal involving the AKS, Stark Law, public corruption, mortgage fraud, bank fraud, health care fraud, tax fraud, research grant fraud, racketeering, embezzlement, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and terrorism financing.

She earned a Director’s Award for Superior Performance for successfully trying a 100-count RICO case, and she also received the Mitch Mars Prosecutorial Excellence Award from the Chicago Crime Commission. Before joining the Criminal Division, she also worked for three years in the Civil Division, where she represented the United States in affirmative civil enforcement and health care fraud actions, including False Claims Act matters. In addition to her trial experience, Lisa also has successfully argued numerous appeals before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2014, Lisa earned a white belt certificate in Legal Lean Sigma® and project management from the Legal Lean Sigma Institute.

Representative Experience

  • Secured Deferred Prosecution Agreement for prominent physicians’ group in criminal antitrust investigation of market allocation for oncology services in Southwest Florida.
  • Obtained Deferred Prosecution Agreement for former Chicago Alderman that resulted in no penalty, following substantial undercover cooperation in sprawling public corruption investigations.
  • Won motion to dismiss state False Claims Act lawsuit for leading utility company.
  • Obtained favorable settlement for educational consultant in an SEC insider trading case.
  • Won motion to dismiss Managed Care Plan from federal False Claims Act lawsuit.
  • Represent durable medical equipment company in False Claims Act cases relating to commissioned sales force.
  • Convinced criminal prosecutors to forego criminal prosecution and False Claims Act lawsuit of skilled nursing facility chain owners.
  • Led internal investigation team hired by private university sports team where players alleged coach harassment, bullying and misconduct.
  • Represent university in research misconduct investigations relating to grant fraud and False Claims Act issues.
  • Obtained Deferred Prosecution Agreement for a honey importer and processor in a federal criminal investigation regarding anti-dumping and transshipping to avoid customs duties.

Awards and Recognition

  • Stand-out Lawyer – Thomson Reuters® (2023)
  • The Best Lawyers in America© – Criminal Defense: White Collar (2018 – 2023)
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 
    • False Claims Act (2022-2023)
    • Litigation: White Collar Crime and Government Investigations (2018 – 2022)
  • Healthcare Award for Best Healthcare Attorney, Illinois – Women in Business Worldwide (2017)
  • The Legal 500 – Health Care and Dispute Resolution (2017)
  • Illinois Super Lawyers® (2007, 2014 – 2016)
  • Top 50: Women – Illinois Super Lawyers® (2015)

Affiliations

  • Illinois-Upstate State Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers – Member
  • National Association of College and University Attorneys – Member
  • Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow (2008)
  • Constitutional Rights Foundation of Chicago – Former board member

Presentations and Publications

  • Panelist, “Qui Tam Section: Balance of Payments: Carrots, Sticks, and the Effect of Continuing to Reimburse after Escobar,” Federal Bar Association (December 6, 2023)
  • Speaker, “Chicago officials are joining the effort to crack down on cases of COVID aid fraud,” NPR’s All Tings Considered (August 31, 2023)
  • Speaker, “Prepping Your Client for Cross-Examination,” National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Annual Meeting (August 3, 2023)
  • Panelist, “How DOJ Calculates Damages in FCA Cases,” Federal Bar Association Qui Tam Section (webinar series) (May 11, 2021)
  • Speaker, “Criminal Antitrust Investigations During A Pandemic,” New York State Bar Association Webinar (October 22, 2020)
06 December 2023 Events

Qui Tam Section: [VIRTUAL] Balance of Payments: Carrots, Sticks, and the Effect of Continuing to Reimburse after Escobar

This panel discussion will explore when and how the issue of continued government payment arises in FCA cases, how courts have analyzed and ruled on the issue since Escobar, and how continued government payment can impact the way parties investigate and litigate FCA cases.
24 October 2023 Article

A Review of Recent Whistleblower Developments

Whistleblower Developments is a periodic report covering significant cases, decisions, proposals, and legislation related to whistleblower statutes and how they may impact your business.
16 October 2023 Health Care Law Today

ORI Proposes New Rulemaking for Research Misconduct Regulations

02 October 2023 In the News

Lisa Noller Profiled in “Litigation Leaders” Q&A Series

Foley & Lardner LLP partner and chair of the firm’s national litigation department Lisa Noller was featured in Am Law Litigation Daily’s “Litigation Leaders” Q&A series, which highlights litigation practice leaders at some of the biggest and most innovative law firms in the country.
31 August 2023 In the News

Lisa Noller Discusses Federal Prosecutor’s Approach to Addressing COVID Aid Fraud

Foley & Lardner LLP partner Lisa Noller is quoted in the NPR story, “Chicago officials are joining the effort to crack down on cases of COVID aid fraud, offering her perspective on the federal government’s triage approach to cracking down on cases of Paycheck Protection Program fraud during the pandemic.
17 August 2023 Honors and Awards

Foley Attorneys Recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers in America

Foley & Lardner LLP proudly announced today that 236 of the firm’s attorneys across 20 U.S. offices have received recognition in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.