Joe Huigens

Joseph (Joe) Huigens is a trusted legal advisor and strategic partner to healthcare providers and businesses navigating the complexities of the U.S. healthcare system. As Chair of Koley Jessen’s Health Law Practice and the Nebraska State Bar Association’s Health Law Section, Joe is at the forefront of healthcare law, providing innovative and practical solutions for physicians, hospitals, and healthcare organizations nationwide.

With a deep understanding of both the legal and operational challenges facing healthcare providers, Joe serves as outside general counsel to physician group practices, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories, medical imaging centers, durable medical equipment suppliers, accountable care organizations, and mental health clinics, among others. He is well versed in healthcare provider operations, the setup and governance of group practices and healthcare businesses, and the numerous federal and state regulatory issues faced by such entities.

Joe’s broad experience allows him to counsel clients on a wide range of regulatory and business matters, including Medicare and Medicaid compliance, Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark Law, HIPAA, and False Claims Act issues. He also has extensive experience defending healthcare professionals in licensure, credentialing, and disciplinary matters, as well as structuring and negotiating employment and professional services agreements. Additionally, Joe advises on a variety of contracts common in the healthcare industry, including human clinical trial agreements with pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

In addition to health law, Joe serves as a go-to counselor for issues related to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act as well as the False Claims Act. He has remarkable experience developing and executing regulatory compliance programs, particularly FCPA anti-corruption compliance programs, both in the United States and abroad. Joe has also represented both healthcare and non-healthcare industry clients in federal and state False Claims Act cases, securing favorable outcomes for his clients.

Joe’s legal career is informed by a unique technical and business background. Prior to practicing law, he worked as a systems engineer for Lockheed Martin, supporting U.S. Strategic Command and NASA. He also served as a compliance program director for the world’s largest multinational retail corporation and as a litigator at an international law firm. This combination of legal expertise, engineering training, and corporate experience allows Joe to bring an analytical and problem-solving mindset to the complex legal issues his clients face. His ability to translate intricate regulations into actionable strategies helps healthcare providers and businesses operate efficiently while mitigating risk.