Michael Shearn has experience and knowledge in life sciences/healthcare regulatory compliance, business, corporate, and contracting matters. Beginning with a regulatory and securities law practice in the Washington, D.C. office of an international law firm, and subsequently in Texas with two major law firms, he has advised on corporate, securities, acquisitions, partnership, contracting, employment/HR, banking and other issues. He advised, as in-house counsel, two publicly-held biotech companies about regulatory and compliance activities. He served for eight years as Senior Counsel, Compliance & Healthcare, at Genzyme Corporation (San Antonio, TX & Cambridge, MA), focused on compliance with drug, biologics and device product promotional rules, antikickback and false claims laws, and clinical research regulations, including speakers bureaus and fair market value compensation analysis. He joined Genzyme as part of the acquisition of ILEX Oncology in San Antonio, Texas where he was Associate General Counsel for four years. As in-house counsel, including compliance counsel, he created, drafted and implemented policies, guidelines, and training for employees to comply with applicable ethics policies, codes of conduct, and healthcare regulatory laws and rules. In his compliance operational role, Mr. Shearn conducted internal investigations, assisted with monitoring/auditing compliance programs and managed transparency ("sunshine") reporting. He prepared and negotiated, and supervised preparation and management of, distribution agreements, consulting agreements, advisory board agreements, clinical research, and other agreements, including lease agreements.He spoke at national seminars on federal and state pharmaceutical and healthcare compliance matters. He performed contracts and risk management services for a nonprofit laboratory, blood and tissue bank.