Leigh's practice experience encompasses a broad range of health care law matters, including structuring medical practice mergers and alliances; advising medical practices and hospitals on health care regulatory (fraud and abuse, HIPAA, Stark, anti-kickback, EMTALA, and antitrust) and reimbursement issues; structuring health care joint ventures between physicians and hospitals; negotiating and drafting contracts; and structuring compliance programs and drafting key compliance policies and procedures. Her experience also encompasses a broad range of business law matters, from start-up businesses to transactional matters.
Contact & Links
- E-mail: law@wardandsmith.com
- Direct Phone Number: 252-672-5482
- Lawyer Page: https://www.wardandsmith.com/attorneys/leigh-wilkinson
Location
- 1001 College Court
P.O. Box 867
New Bern, NC 28563-0867
Education
- North Carolina State University, graduated 1982
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduated 1985
Bar Admissions
- North Carolina, 1985
Affiliations
- North Carolina State University College of Sciences Foundation - Past board chairperson
- North Carolina Bar Association - Member — Sections: Business Law; Health Law
- New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce - Past board chairperson
- * Please see the following websites for an explanation of the membership standards for the following recognitions: - www.bestlawyers.com; businessnc.com/special-sections/legal-elite/; and www.superlawyers.com/north-carolina.
- American Health Lawyers Association - Member
- Civitan International - Region Three Director, 2015 - 2017
- Coastal Women's Forum - Director
- Medical Group Management Association - Member
- NCSU PAMS Foundation - Director
- North Carolina Society of Health Care Attorneys - Member
- Tryon Civitan Club - Member
- North Carolina District East Civitans - Governor, 2010-2011
Court Admissions
- All state courts in North Carolina
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
Ward and Smith, P.A.
Headquarters:
New Bern, North Carolina
56 The Best Lawyers in America® awards
14 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards
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Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
- Health Care Law
Special Focus:
- COVID-19
Awards:
- 2011 Foundation Junior Fellow - Civitan International
- 2011 NC District East Civitan Scholarship Fellow
- 2011 Research Fellow - Civitan International
- 2011 Shropshire Fellow - Civitan International
- Medal of Achievement from NCSU College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, 2009
- North Carolina Bar Association Citizen Lawyer Award, 2013
- North Carolina District East Civitan, Carlie B. Sessoms Memorial Award, Civitan of the Decade, 2014
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2010-2024
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Transactions
Representation of hospital medical staff in credentialing
Representation of hospital medical staff in credentialing, grievance and disciplinary actions involving physicians
Representation of medical practice in Medicare appeal of overpayment determination
Representation of medical practice in Medicare appeal of overpayment determination through Administrative Law Judge Hearing level
Representation of medical practice in sale of assets
Representation of medical practice in sale of assets to and simultaneous employment of physicians by hospital
Representation of retiring physician
Representation of retiring physician in negotiating the buy-out of his ownership interest in the practice and the entity that owned the practice's office locations
Representation of medical practice
Representation of medical practice in developing diagnostic imaging joint venture with hospital
Representation of client in audit, calculation and refund of Medicare
Representation of client in audit, calculation and refund of Medicare and other payor overpayments exceeding $500,000
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