USA
Practice Areas
ERISA and Benefit Plan Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Construction
White Collar Criminal Defense
Health Care
Career
Patricia Lee is an experienced and tenacious litigator who has handled a broad spectrum of civil and criminal cases in state and federal court. She has represented clients in the areas of healthcare and commercial litigation, construction, class action defense, white collar criminal defense and internal investigations. An aggressive advocate, Patti honed her trial skills and strong attention to detail early in her career as a criminal defense lawyer. She frequently represents a myriad of companies and industries in complex and difficult matters, and has achieved successful results through motions, settlement, trial and appeal. Regardless of the size or scope of a case, Patti develops a tailored and efficient legal strategy for each matter to meet her clients’ legal and business objectives.
As Chair of Connell Foley LLP’s ERISA and Benefit Plan Litigation Group, Patti devotes a substantial portion of her work to defending lawsuits that seek benefits under health plans, or that assert claims for statutory penalties or injunctive and declaratory relief. She has defended numerous claims brought against managed care companies and self-funded health benefit plans for relief under common law and statutes such as the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), state and federal RICO, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the New Jersey Health Claims Authorization, Processing and Payment Act (HCAPPA), and other federal and state health insurance and information technology laws. She has also prosecuted affirmative claims for health care fraud and secured significant overpayment recoveries under the New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act (IFPA) and common law.
In addition, Patti has defended class actions on behalf of clients in the managed care, construction, insurance, utility, food and beverage, and other industries. Her work has contributed to the dismissal of claims and/or denial of class certification in putative class actions brought under ERISA, state and federal RICO and antitrust laws, New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act (CFA), Truth-in-Consumer Contract Warranty and Notice Act (TCCWNA), and the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Patti has frequently served as local counsel in class action matters in the Federal District Courts for New Jersey and New York, working collaboratively with her co-counsel to achieve optimal results for their clients. In the construction space, Patti has represented clients in complex construction litigations arising out of delay and defective workmanship claims, lien claims, architectural and engineering liability, fraud claims and builder’s risk insurance coverage disputes, as well as on transactional agreements for new construction projects.
Patti has served as a member of Connell Foley’s Executive Committee, and also as Co-chair of the firm’s Diversity, Women’s Initiative, and Hiring Committees. She has volunteered as pro bono counsel on behalf of domestic violence victims, and is currently the Co-chair of the Essex County Bar Association Civil Practice Committee.
Professional Memberships
New Jersey State Bar Association
NJSBA Class Action Subcommittee
New Jersey Federal Bar Association
New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
New Jersey Women Lawyers Association
Women's White Collar Defense Association
USLAW, Construction Practice Group
Defense Research Institute (DRI)
Life, Health and Disability Committee
Publications
A New Jersey Health Insurer Blue Cross/Blue Shield Wins $2.4 Million Jury Verdict in Healthcare Fraud Suit
New Jersey Law Journal, 10.03.2024
Court Finds “Hypothetical” Injury Insufficient for Claims of ERISA Preemption of NJ’s Out-of-Network Surprise Billing Law
04.01.2020
Co-author, "ERISA Health Benefit Plans: Anti-Assignment Clauses as the First Line of Defense to Provider Lawsuits"
New Jersey Law Journal, 06.20.2016
Co-author, "Out-of-Network Dilemma: When Members Should Be Parties to Reimbursement Dispute"
New Jersey Law Journal, 05.02.2016
Co-author, "Transparency in Out-of-Network Reimbursements: Can It Reduce Health-Care Costs in NJ?"
New Jersey Law Journal , 11.16.2015
Author, "Handling EHR System Audit Trails and Self Audits: Critical tools for the health-care lawyer"
New Jersey Law Journal, 09.07.2015
Co-author, "The Complexities Of Civil Rico Prosecution And Defense"
08.2012
Co-author, "New Jersey's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program: Opening the Door to Expanded Tort Liability"
New Jersey Law Journal, 09.13.2010
Expert in these Jurisdictions
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
United States District Court for the Western District of Ne
Education
American University - Washington College of Law
JD
1998
Awards
Best Lawyers in America (2024 - 2025) Commercial Litigation
Best Lawyers
Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Finalist
New Jersey Law Journal
2024
New Jersey Super Lawyers – Health Care (2018-2025)
Super Lawyers
Partners in Justice Award
Partners for Women in Justice
2023
Best 50 Women in Business
NJBIZ
2018
Volunteer Settlement Program Recognition
Essex County Bar
2023