Lisa Hawke

Competent health care counsel, but communication could improve

I engaged Lisa Hawke at Holland & Knight to assist with a complex regulatory compliance review for my mid-sized medical practice in the DC area. Her profile and recognition in health care law, including her listing in Best Lawyers, were the primary reasons for my selection. In terms of substantive legal knowledge, Lisa was undeniably proficient. She provided a thorough analysis of the relevant CMS regulations and helped us navigate a potential Stark Law issue. The final work product was solid and gave our board the clarity needed. However, the experience was marked by significant delays in communication. Responses to emails often took several business days, and there was little proactive status updating, which created some anxiety during the process. While her expertise in health care law is evident and her firm's resources are substantial, the client service aspect felt transactional. For straightforward, non-urgent regulatory guidance, she is a capable attorney. For matters requiring more frequent touchpoints or a sense of partnership, you may need to set very clear expectations upfront regarding communication protocols. The competence is there, but the overall experience was merely adequate.