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Michael Wood Headshot

Michael C. Wood

Senior Associate

Based in Northern California, Michael Wood specializes in healthcare regulatory and compliance matters. He works with pharmaceutical manufacturers, healthcare providers, pharmacies, and digital health technology companies navigating complex and evolving regulatory environments.

Michael provides legal advice to a wide range of healthcare clients on regulatory and enforcement matters, with a focus on compliance with state and federal healthcare fraud and abuse laws, corporate practice of medicine, telemedicine, and drug pricing & government price reporting.

Michael also advises on Anti-Kickback Statute compliance and Stark Law requirements, combining extensive law firm and in-house experience with a strong commercial background to advance client business objectives.

In his work on government price reporting matters, Michael advises clients on compliance with the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, Medicare Part B pricing, Department of Veterans Affairs requirements, and 340B Program obligations, as well as with state drug pricing transparency requirements.

Michael’s clients include manufacturers of medical devices and pharmaceuticals, California-based hospitals and integrated health networks, clinical laboratories, physicians and other healthcare providers, practice management companies, telehealth platforms, pharmacies, and developers of mobile and digital health technology. With particular expertise in California healthcare regulatory matters, Michael addresses the unique compliance challenges facing national and West Coast healthcare organizations with operations in California, regularly engaging with state healthcare regulatory agencies to bring valuable insights to client strategies.

Before joining Arnold & Porter, Mr. Wood spent two years as in-house counsel with a healthcare and medical device company where he addressed all aspects of the company's operations, including issues related to in-house and third-party manufacturing labs, distribution and import of medical devices, FDA and regulatory compliance, commercial contracts, and anti-corruption and anti-kickback compliance.

Prior to working in-house, Mr. Wood spent nearly five years with a large international law firm focusing on complex compliance and regulatory matters. He helped a variety of clients navigate litigation, regulatory actions, and internal and government investigations involving complex civil, criminal and compliance issues. Michael also successfully defended a large California hospital system in a qui tam matter involving complex billing and coding allegations. He also conducted internal investigations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia relating to allegations of money laundering and financial fraud, senior management misconduct, the False Claims Act, anti-kickback statutes, insurance fraud, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

In 2018, while still at his previous firm, Mr. Wood completed a three-month secondment with the Yolo County District Attorney's office leading multiple jury trials to verdict as a volunteer Deputy District Attorney.

Mr. Wood began his career serving as a law clerk to Chief Judge Morrison C. England, Jr. of the United States District Court, Eastern District of California. As a clerk, Mr. Wood researched and drafted proposed opinions and orders in a variety of civil and criminal matters at all stages of the proceedings.

Mr. Wood earned his J.D. from the Pepperdine University School of Law where he served as symposium editor for the Pepperdine Law Review and graduated summa cum laude, salutatorian, and Order of the Coif. While at Pepperdine, Mr. Wood also received a Master of Dispute Resolution (M.D.R.) from the law school's Straus Institute and a Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.). Mr. Wood graduated cum laude from Georgetown University with a degree in government. While a student, Mr. Wood interned for a member of the California legislature, the California governor's office and the California secretary of state.

Credentials

Education

  • J.D., Pepperdine University School of Law, 2013, summa cum laude; Salutatorian
  • M.P.P., Pepperdine University School of Public Policy, 2013
  • M.D.R., Pepperdine University School of Law, 2011
  • A.B., Government, Georgetown University, 2009, cum laude

Admissions

  • California
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Clerkships

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, The Honorable Morrison C. England, Jr.

Activities

  • Member, California Society for Healthcare Attorneys
Overview