Vedder Price

Vedder Thinking | News Former Federal Prosecutor Ryan S. Hedges Joins Vedder Price in Chicago

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Vedder Price is pleased to announce that former Assistant United States Attorney Ryan S. Hedges has joined the firm’s Chicago office as a Shareholder in the Government Enforcement & Special Investigations practice group.

Mr. Hedges joins Vedder Price after more than seven years at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where he served in the Criminal Division, Financial Crimes Section investigating and prosecuting complex financial crimes. An experienced trial attorney, Mr. Hedges has successfully tried ten federal criminal cases and argued six federal appeals.

During his tenure at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Hedges prosecuted some of the largest and most complex health care fraud cases recently charged in the Northern District of Illinois, including the investigation and indictment of 11 administrators and doctors at the former Sacred Heart Hospital, which culminated earlier this year in a seven-week jury trial and guilty verdicts against the hospital’s owner and CEO, and two other top administrators. Mr. Hedges also has significant experience leading complex investigations of individuals and corporations suspected of white collar crimes such as health care fraud; investment, securities and commodities fraud; mail and wire fraud; money laundering; and tax crimes including violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, the False Claims Act and the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, among other federal statutes.

"Ryan’s significant trial experience and knowledge of white collar crimes and health care fraud adds depth to our practice, and he will be a valuable resource to our clients," commented Vedder Price Shareholder Junaid A. Zubairi, Chair of the firm’s Government Enforcement & Special Investigations practice group. "We are thrilled to have a litigator of his skill and experience join the team."

"I am excited to join the outstanding attorneys of Vedder Price," added Mr. Hedges. "I was particularly drawn to the firm’s focus on client service, and I look forward to contributing to the firm’s growing Government Enforcement and Special Investigations practice."

Prior to his service at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Hedges practiced for six years at prominent litigation firms in Los Angeles and Chicago, and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Kim McLane Wardlaw on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Hedges earned his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and his J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Southern California Law Review.



Professionals



Ryan S. Hedges

Shareholder