Gary J. Lesneski, JD, Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Cooper University Health Care, was named General Counsel of the Year for Health Care by NJBIZ, a leading statewide business publication.
He was among the seven top lawyers in the state of New Jersey to receive the honor as a winner at the NJBIZ General Counsel of the Year event held in Somerset, NJ, on Friday, June 6, 2014. In addition to the health care category, awards were given in the following categories: public company (revenues up to $1 billion), public company (revenues over $1 billion), private company (revenues up to $1 billion), private company (revenues over $1 billion), corporate compliance and nonprofit/government.
“We congratulate Gary and are proud of this distinction,” said Adrienne Kirby, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cooper University Health Care. “Gary brings so much experience and talent to Cooper and has been instrumental in many key initiatives over the past several years. It is gratifying to have him honored in this way.”
Mr. Lesneski is responsible for all aspects of Cooper University Health Care’s legal affairs including developing health system policy and procedures; reviewing contracts and other legal documents; providing legal advice regarding patient care, compliance, human resources and medical staff matters; advising on proposed collaborations with external entities; and helping to resolve disputes, claims and litigation. He has played a key role in Cooper’s growth and expansion over the past several years that have included:
- Handling legal and contractual matters related to the creation of the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.
- Negotiating the partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center, the nation’s leading cancer program, to create the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper which opened in October 2013.
- Negotiating a partnership with AmeriHealth New Jersey to develop new insurance initiatives to meet the demands and opportunities of health care reform.
Mr. Lesneski has twice served as chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association, Health and Hospital Law Section, most recently in 2008-2009. He has served on the Board of Samaritan Healthcare and Hospice since 1996, including as chair from 2005-2007, and was a member of the NJ Supreme Court Civil Practice Committee from 2006 to 2010. In 2011, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the New Jersey State Bar Association, Health and Hospital Law Section.
Previously, he was a shareholder and president of the law firm of Archer & Greiner, P.C., specializing in health and hospital law, labor and litigation. A graduate of Haverford College and University of Pennsylvania Law School, he has appeared in state and federal courts and before various state and federal agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the NJ Division on Civil Rights, and various professional licensing boards.