Wright Lindsey Jennings
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Little Rock, Ark. (January 22, 2025) – Wright Lindsey Jennings (WLJ), one of Arkansas’ oldest and largest law firms, welcomes back experienced regulatory attorney Jennifer L. Smith, further strengthening its health law team.
Jennifer rejoins WLJ after working in house at the state’s only academic health sciences university, and she previously practiced as a registered nurse. With 18 years of health law experience, Jennifer provides a wealth of knowledge to guide clients through regulatory, administrative and compliance concerns.
“Given the high level of regulation in the healthcare industry, we take great pride in our ability to help clients maintain compliance,” said Steve Lancaster, managing partner at WLJ. “To add Jennifer back to the team, with her in-depth knowledge of and history within the healthcare industry, only reinforces our capabilities as one of the state’s leading providers of legal services to the healthcare industry.”
Jennifer, who has joined the firm’s Little Rock office, will continue her legal career representing healthcare providers in numerous areas including healthcare contracting; medical staff issues; professional licensing matters; government investigations and regulatory actions; fraud and abuse laws and regulations; patient privacy; telemedicine; risk management; and regulatory compliance. She also has extensive experience advising clients on the Healthcare Quality Improvement Act, Arkansas Peer Review Fairness Act, Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act, EMTALA, HIPAA, HITECH, and Medicare and Medicaid regulations.
Jennifer is a graduate of Arkansas State University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law. In 2024, Jennifer was appointed Vice Chair of the American Health Law Association (AHLA) Healthcare Liability and Litigation Practice Group. She previously served as a participant on the AHLA Medical Staff, Credentialing and Peer Review Practice Group.
An active community volunteer, Jennifer has served on the Boards of Directors for Dress for Success Northwest Arkansas, the Central Arkansas Rescue Effort (CARE) for Animals and the Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Association (ARORA). She is a graduate of the UAMS Leadership Institute and Leadership Greater Little Rock, Class XXXII, and is a member of the Emergency Nurses Association.
Jennifer joins one of the state’s largest and most experienced teams of lawyers focused on the complex legal issues faced by hospitals and healthcare providers – large and small. From medical malpractice defense to regulatory compliance to life science related claims, WLJ attorneys recognize the nuanced and ever-changing challenges facing the healthcare industry. WLJ represents long term care facilities, emergency transport services, mental health professionals, advanced practice nurses, dentists, pharmacists and pharmacies, among many other health professionals. The firm’s client-focused advocacy has earned accolades from legal and peer review publications, such as Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America® and Mid-South Super Lawyers.
To learn more about Wright Lindsey Jennings’ health law and regulatory services, visit www.WLJ.com.
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Now celebrating 125 years of service, Wright Lindsey Jennings is one of the premier law firms in Arkansas and the region, supporting businesses across a full range of litigation, corporate and transactional service areas. Many WLJ attorneys are consistently recognized by their peers as among the best in their areas of practice. The firm’s attorneys are also committed to excellence beyond the practice of law – serving and leading in local, regional and national professional and community organizations. WLJ received the Olivia Farrell Gender Equity Leadership Award from the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas and the Smart Corporate Giving Award from the Arkansas Community Foundation. WLJ has been named one of the “Best Places to Work” in Arkansas every year since 2018 and was the Arkansas Business “Best of Biz” winner in the legal category in 2024. Today, Wright Lindsey Jennings has 75 attorneys practicing in Little Rock and Rogers. Visit www.WLJ.com to learn more.