Debra Lienhardt, executive vice president and chief business development and legal officer at RWJBarnabas Health, has been named the recipient of the In-House Impact Award by American Lawyer Media’s New Jersey Law Journal.
Selected from six distinguished finalists, Lienhardt was honored at the annual New Jersey Legal Awards gala on Oct. 29 at The Palace at Somerset Park. The awards celebrate trailblazers and innovators who have left a lasting mark on their organizations and New Jersey’s legal landscape.
Appointed as RWJBarnabas Health’s first-ever Chief Legal Officer in 2025, Lienhardt has expanded the position beyond traditional corporate counsel, integrating legal strategy directly into the health system’s core business operations and long-term objectives.
Under her leadership, RWJBarnabas Health transformed its internal legal model by embedding attorneys as strategic partners early in transactions and decision-making processes. By developing an in-house team of specialized legal experts, she significantly reduced reliance on outside firms while keeping valuable institutional knowledge within the health system.
In her dual role heading Business Development, Lienhardt spearheaded the acquisition and integration of numerous healthcare providers and developed an ambulatory care partnership model across New Jersey. This growth strategy contributed $2.5 billion in topline revenue in 2025, expanding community access to care while bolstering the health system’s financial performance.
Lienhardt has also prioritized workforce development and equity within the healthcare legal sector. She established a cross-departmental internship program spanning Legal and Business Development that actively recruits top talent from Rutgers, Seton Hall, Harvard, University of Chicago, Penn, and Vanderbilt.
A dedicated advocate for female executive advancement, Lienhardt has built a team where female representation across her departments has reached 75 percent.
Prior to her executive leadership role at RWJBarnabas Health, Lienhardt was a partner at a prominent New Jersey law firm, where she practiced healthcare law for more than two decades and guided major statewide health transactions. She began her legal career in Washington, D.C., monitoring federal healthcare legislation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from Rutgers College and a Juris Doctor from Columbia University School of Law, where she served on the Columbia Business Law Review.
