Prominent Mid-Atlantic law firm Connell Foley LLP announced Wednesday that Edward Cienki, has joined the firm as Of Counsel within its expanding Healthcare Practice Group.
Cienki brings more than 45 years of rare, multi-disciplinary experience spanning clinical practice, healthcare executive leadership, and complex regulatory law. At Connell Foley, he will advise health care organizations on a broad range of high stakes matters, including cannabis regulations, corporate law, financial restructuring and bankruptcy, insurance, regulatory compliance, and white-collar defense.
“Ed’s rare combination of in-house experience and executive level leadership—paired with deep regulatory and transactional capabilities—will be a significant asset to our growing health care practice,” Timothy Corriston, Connell Foley’s managing partner said.
Throughout his distinguished career, Cienki has served in nearly every major tier of hospital administration across New Jersey. He has previously held executive titles including President, Chief Operating Officer (COO), General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer at various Garden State hospital systems.
In these capacities, Cienki pioneered the development and state licensure of fresh clinical service lines, managed federal and state hospital surveys, and addressed accreditation matters. He has a extensive history of representing healthcare institutions before powerful oversight bodies, including:
- The New Jersey State Health Planning Board
- The New Jersey Department of Health
- The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
- U.S. Congressional committees
“Connell Foley has an outstanding reputation for practical, business-minded counsel, and I’m looking forward to helping clients navigate today’s increasingly complex health care regulatory and compliance environment,” Cienki stated.
Cienki’s legal advice is backed by practical clinical and business credentials. In addition to earning his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Rutgers University, he holds an MBA in Health and Medical Services Administration from Widener University and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science. He remains a fully Registered Pharmacist (R.Ph.).
His deep understanding of the intersection between medicine and the law has made him a sought-after educator. Cienki has held faculty appointments at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science and has served as a recurring guest lecturer in healthcare transactional and regulatory law at Rutgers University School of Law–Camden. He remains an active member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Health Care Compliance Association, and the American Health Law Association.
The addition of Cienki bolsters Connell Foley’s capacity to guide hospitals, vast health systems, and individual medical providers through a highly volatile regulatory climate. His transactional background will heavily support clients navigating corporate structuring, privacy risk management, compliance program integration, and formal state and federal defense investigations.
Founded in 1938, Connell Foley LLP employs more than 140 lawyers across its network of offices throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. The full-service firm is highly ranked for its litigation, real estate, land use, and corporate law sectors.
