Ward Legal, Inc.

Laura E. Ward is an owner at Ward Legal, Inc. Her practice focuses on general transactional corporate and personal estate planning, with a specialization in employee benefits and healthcare law. Ms. Ward routinely advises business clients on for-profit and non-profit entity planning and formation, contracting, purchase and sale agreements, and with operational, governance and compliance issues. She counsels employers, trustees, TPAs, and plan sponsors on tax and ERISA law governing defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans, and health and welfare plans. Ms. Ward regularly advises clients on benefit plan design considerations, plan administration, fiduciary responsibility, claims procedures, and disclosure requirements. She also counsels healthcare providers, administrators, and facilities on contracting and the full range of healthcare related state and federal issues, including but not limited to consent, privacy, managed care, anti-kickback, HIPAA, COBRA, and the self-referral prohibitions in Stark and PORA. Ms. Ward assists healthcare providers in structuring their business transactions and relationships in compliance with the complex federal and state regulatory framework. She also advises clients and brokers on the federal healthcare reform contained in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and assists plan sponsors of self-funded medical plans and licensees and Knox-Keene license applicants with understanding the regulatory requirements applicable to their plans. Ms. Ward assists clients with obtaining restricted and unrestricted Knox-Keene licenses to operate health maintenance organizations, liaisons with the California Department of Managed Health Care, and advises clients regarding ongoing operational regulatory compliance.

Admitted to Practice
  • All State Courts within the State of California
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of California

 Professional Activities and Affiliations
  • Fresno Area Stanford Alumni Association, Board Member AND Officer
  • Fresno County Women Lawyers
  • Fresno County Bar Association
  • State Bar of California
  • Health Care Compliance Association - Certified in Healthcare Compliance
  • Association of Certified Fraud Examiners - Certified Fraud Examiner
  • North Fresno Rotary, Member and NFR Endowment Board  Member AND Secretary
  • ​City of Fresno Women's Commission, District 1 Commissioner
  • ​City of Fresno PARKS RECREATION AND ARTS Commission, Commissioner
  • ​Fresno Arts Council, Former Board Member and Vice President (2018-2023)
  • Black Wellness & Prosperity Center, Board Member

Education
  • University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (J.D., 2007)
  • Stanford University (B.A. in English, 2004)

 Achievements
Ms. Ward was selected as a Northern California “Rising Star” in 2014 THROUGH 2022 by the Super Lawyers publication, a distinction given to only 2.5% of lawyers in California.  M.s Lawyer was selected as a "Super Lawyer" in 2023. She is Certified in HealthCARE Compliance. (CHC) through the  Compliance Certification Board., and is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) through the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. . Ms. Ward also received the AV Preeminent peer rating from Martindale-Hubbell..

 

 

Robert E. Ward is an owner at Ward Legal, Inc. His practice focuses on general transactional corporate and personal estate planning, with a specialization in taxation and healthcare law. Mr. Ward routinely advises business clients on for-profit and non-profit entity planning and formation, contracting, purchase and sale agreements, and with operational, governance and compliance issues. He counsels clients on the tax consequences of proposed transactions, and advises both businesses and individuals on federal and state tax issues. Mr. Ward has extensive experience advising health care facilities, Medical Staffs, employee welfare benefit plans, multiple-employer trusts, physician-sponsored IPAs, PPOs, the United Foundations for Medical Care, a number of regional Foundations for Medical Care, County Medical Societies, and health maintenance organizations.

Admitted to Practice
  • All State Courts within the State of California
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of California

Professional Activities and Affiliations
  • Fresno Madera Area Agency on Aging, Board Member
  • Fresno County Bar Association
  • State Bar of California

Education
  • University of San Diego, J.D., cum laude, 1977
  • University of Idaho, B.S., cum laude, 1970


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