John W. Leardi
Member of the Firm
John Leardi represents healthcare providers in both transactions and disputes, and regularly advocates for his clients in both the courtroom and the boardroom.
John’s clients include physicians and physician groups, DME suppliers, clinical laboratories, independent pharmacies, outpatient surgical facilities, group purchasing organizations, health IT companies, management companies, and third-party billing services.
Provider reimbursement is the principal focus of John’s healthcare dispute practice. For almost twenty years John has defended healthcare providers in overpayment recovery disputes involving allegations of improper coding and claim submissions, kickbacks, self-referrals, improper practice structure, and medically unnecessary services.
Drawing on his experience as a multiple-exit Health IT entrepreneur, John also advises healthcare businesses of all shapes and sizes about corporate and transactional matters. John counsels providers on corporate formation, restructuring, and dissolution; mergers, acquisitions, and spin-offs; commercial contracts and leases; employer/employee relations; restrictive covenants; insurance coverage and reimbursement; business torts; administrative and regulatory compliance; information security; and protection of confidential and proprietary information.
A frequent lecturer about medical practice management to audiences of physicians, residents, and students, John is a Fellow of and regular contributor to the American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management (AAPPM). Additionally, John represents professional associations and nonprofit healthcare advocacy groups. He supports the Firm’s role as General Counsel to the New Jersey Podiatric Medical Society (NJPMS) and the New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (NJAOPS) and Special Counsel to the Garden State Pharmacy Owners (GSPO).
In his free time, John can be found at the beach, on the golf course, or on the sporting clay course. He is a self-proclaimed wine snob, and he knows his way around the kitchen. His love of the New York Giants is borderline fanatical.
Representative Matters
- Closed the $25 million sale of a multistate podiatric practice, representing the selling physician-owners in a transaction with a private equity buyer that addressed regulatory issues identified during due diligence and structured post-closing arrangements to manage potential exposure.
- Represents a New Jersey–based clinical laboratory in federal litigation against a global manufacturer and related entities arising from the alleged failure of a COVID-19 testing platform sold during the early stages of the pandemic.
Honors & Awards
The Best Lawyers in America®
- Health Care Law, 2026-2027
- Litigation – Health Care, 2026-2027
Super Lawyers®, part of Thomson Reuters
- Included in New Jersey Super Lawyers, 2016–2026
- Included in the list of “Top 100 New Jersey Super Lawyers,” 2024
- Included in New Jersey Rising Stars, 2013–2015
Professional Memberships & Affiliations
Member, New Jersey State Bar Association, including Health Law, Federal Practice and Procedure, and Solo and Small Firm sections
Member, New York State Bar Association, including Health Law, Commercial and Federal Litigation, and Dispute Resolution sections
Member, Michigan State Bar Association, including Health Care Law and Litigation sections
Member, American Health Lawyers Association, including Fraud & Abuse, Physician Organizations, and Health Information Technology practice groups
Member, American Bar Association, including Health Law, Litigation, Law Practice, and Solo, Small Firm, and General Practice divisions
Member, Federal Bar Association, New Jersey Chapter, including Health Law and Federal Litigation sections
Fellow, American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management (AAPPM)
Publications
“Protect Yourself Against Payer Audit Liability: Begin with a Compliance Program,” BLW Health Law Blog (January 2025)
“Preparing For Your Exit (Now Or Later),” Podiatry Management Magazine (October 2023)
“Physician Employment Agreements: How a Better Contracting Process Leads to Better Physician Employees,” Podiatry Management (April 2017)
“Five Post-Payment Audit Fictions: Basic Knowledge You Need to Protect Yourself and Your Practice,” TRAKnet Today (March 2014)
“Safety in Numbers: Examining the Rise of Podiatric Supergroups,” Podiatry Management (February 2013)
“Five Post-Payment Audit Fictions: Basic Knowledge You Need to Protect Yourself and Your Practice,” Podiatry Management (January 2012)
“Insuring Your Practice Through Compliance: Would You Survive a Post-Payment Audit?,” Podiatry Management(August 2011)
“The Healthcare Reform Law’s Anti-Fraud Provisions: What New Jersey Chiropractors Need to Know,” New Jersey Chiropractor (August 2010)
“Informed Consent: What New Jersey Law Requires,” New Jersey Chiropractor (May 2009)
“Compliance is as Compliance Does,” New Jersey Chiropractor (October 2008)
“Victory at Last: The New Jersey Supreme Court Reaffirms that Extraspinal Adjustments are Within the Scope of Chiropractic,” ANJC Membership Advisory (July 2008)
“Five Post-Payment Audit Fictions: Basic Knowledge You Need to Protect Yourself and Your Practice,” New Jersey Chiropractor (June 2008)
“Health Net v. Garcia: New Jersey Court Renders an Opinion That Immediately Impacts Chiropractic Physicians,” New Jersey Chiropractor (March 2008)
“Clarifying a Post-Payment Audit Fiction: Why Inadequate Treatment Records are not a Per Se Violation of the New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act,” 31 Seton Hall L. J. 287 (2007)
“New Jersey Supreme Court Grants Certification in Bedford v. Riello,” New Jersey Chiropractor (October 2007)
“Bedford v. Riello: What happened? What does it mean? What is the ANJC doing about it?,” New Jersey Chiropractor (June 2007)
“Capitalizing on the Calm Before the Storm: Successfully Defending a Post-Payment Audit Depends upon the First Steps Taken,” New Jersey Chiropractor (June 2006)
“Assessing the Health Claims Authorization, Processing and Payment Act: The NJ Legislature Finally Levels the Playing Field,” New Jersey Chiropractor (March 2006)
“Recent Developments in Products, General Liability, and Consumer Law,” ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Law Journal (Winter 2006)
“Expanded Liability Exposure for Drug and Medical Device Manufacturers: Uninjured Plaintiffs Seek Recovery for ‘Artificially Inflated Prices’ or Other Relief,” LJN Product Liability Law and Strategy (December 2005)
“Perez v. Wyeth and Direct-to-Consumer Advertising: The New Jersey Supreme Court Still Stands Alone,” LJN Medical Malpractice Law and Strategy (September/October 2005)
“Experiencing a Firm’s Practice and Culture Firsthand: Using a Summer Associate Program to Provide Candidates a Glimpse into the Realities of Firm Life,” New Jersey Law Journal, Summer Associate Supplement (Summer 2005)
“Reflections on United States v. Craft: Justifying a New Federal Common Law of Property?,” 34 Seton Hall L. Rev. 1353 (2004)
Speaking Engagements
“NJ PBM Reform Package Analysis,” NJ Independent Pharmacy Town Hall (August 2023)
“Ten Key Elements to Selling Your Practice: A Roadmap for Podiatrists,” Provider Resources LLC (June 2023)
“Preparing for an Exit (Now or Later): Associates, Buy-Ins, Partnerships, Acquisitions, and Divestments,” American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management Fall Meeting (November 2022)
“The Anatomy of a Payer Audit: How and Why Payers Scrutinize Your Claim Submissions,” American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management Fall Meeting, Billing & Coding Track (November 2022)
“Confronting Emerging Risks Head On: Proactively Addressing the Most Common Compliance Risks,” American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management Fall Meeting, Billing & Coding Track (November 2022)
“Your First Lawsuit: What to Expect and How to Prevent It,” American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management Fall Meeting, New Practitioner Track (November 2022)
“Protecting Your Doctors from a Lawsuit: What to Expect and How You Can Help to Prevent It,” American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management Fall Meeting, Medical Assistant Track (November 2022)
“HIPAA Demystified: A Simple Explanation of the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules,” American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management Fall Meeting, Medical Assistant Track (November 2022)
“Regulatory Compliance for Age Management Practices: Risk Management if a Process not Just a Manual,” Age Management Medical Group, 33rd Clinical Applications for Age Management Medicine Conference (April 2022)
“Freedom, Vision, & Charting Your Own Course,” Prosperity & Something Greater Podcast (June 2020)
“COVID-19: PPP Loan Forgiveness and Repayment 101,” American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management Virtual Meeting (May 2020)
“COVID-19: Lessons Learned and How to Be Ready for You Practice’s Next Crisis,” American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management Virtual Meeting (May 2020)
“Bad Boys, Bad Boys, What You Gonna Do When They Come For You?,” American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management Spring Meeting (May 2019)
“Compliance Update 2018: Where Current Enforcement Efforts are Focused and What Physician Practices Can Do to Avoid Scrutiny,” American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management Summer Meeting (June 2018)
“Refining Your Revenue Cycle Management Process: Successful Collections and Consistent Cashflow Require a Process-Based Approach,” Ohio Foot & Ankle Medical Association, Coding and Financial Institute (March 2018)
“The Anatomy of a Payer Audit” Understanding How and Why Payers Scrutinize Your Claims Submissions,” Ohio Foot & Ankle Medical Association, Coding and Financial Institute (March 2018)
“Federal Update 2018: An Educated Guess on Legislative, Regulatory, and Marketing Changes,” Ohio Foot & Ankle Medical Association, Coding and Financial Institute (March 2018)
“Healthcare in Trump’s America,” American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management, Midwinter Management Workshop (February 2017)
“Stark Reality: Understanding the Laws Prohibiting Self-Referrals, Kickback, and Inducements,” American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management, Mid-Winter Management Workshop (February 2017)
“Medicare Appeals 101: Using Federal Law to Succeed in Appealing Reimbursement Denials,” Ohio Foot & Ankle Medical Association, Coding and Financial Institute (April 2016)
“ERISA Appeals 101: Using Federal Law to Succeed in Appealing Reimbursement Denials,” Ohio Foot & Ankle Medical Association, Coding and Financial Institute (April 2016)
“Enforcement Update 2016: Medicare Reporting and Returning of Self-Identified Overpayments,” Ohio Foot & Ankle Medical Association, Coding and Financial Institute (April 2016)
Media Mentions
Part B News, “AI Chatbots Create Medico-Legal Trouble; Reduce Your Risk of Harm,” May 18, 2026
Podiatry Management, “Common Pitfalls in Payer Contracts,” June/July 2025
Part B News, “AMA Survey: Private Practice Keeps Declining; Hospitals Pick Up,” June 16, 2025
Law360, “Remote Work, AI Top of Mind For NJ Law Firm Leaders In 2024,” January 2, 2024
Part B News, “MAOs More Motivated to Audit; 4 Tips Will Help Your In-Person Process,” December 18, 2023
In the News
2027 Best Lawyers® Lists Recognizes Four Buttaci Leardi & Werner LLC Attorneys
Hospice News Quotes Paul Werner on Uptick in Regulatory Oversight, Need for Better Compliance
Vincent N. Buttaci, Esq. Named to Mindful Choices for ADHD Steering Committee
Part B News Quotes John Leardi on Safeguards for Incorporating AI Into Practice
MD+DI Features Paul Werner in Q&A on DOJ West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force
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