Optometric Legal Services
Craig S. Steinberg, O.D., J.D., brings a very unique perspective and expertise to the field of Optometric and Healthcare Law and Consulting. Though now primarily engaged in the practice of law, he is one of a select few licensed and actively practicing lawyers in the United States who also maintains his license to as a practicing optometrist. As a result, Dr. Steinberg's knowledge and expertise in the myriad legal issues affecting optometrists and medical providers is both practical and extensive.
In addition to healthcare and business litigation cases, Dr. Steinberg has handled numerous legal matters concerning optometrists, including State Board defense (defending accusations by the California Board of Optometry which can lead to the suspension or revocation of your license), fraud in the purchase of practices, misappropriation of patient lists, breach of contract, defense of VSP and other Third Party discipline or panel expulsion hearings, expert witness testimony concerning practice valuation, standard of care, billing, and much more. Dr. Steinberg is regularly retained to draft and/or review agreements concerning the formation and leasing of optometric practices, optometric buy/sell agreements, and partnership agreements.
Dr. Steinberg has perhaps the most experience of any attorney in the country in three specific areas of optometric law:
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Each of these are complex legal transactions (the old saying you don't know what you don't know is very appropriate here) and require the aid of an attorney that is not "learning on the job." No matter what state you may be located in, if you are looking for legal help in either of these areas please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Steinberg, and the quicker you do so the better!
As a result of his extensive experience in these areas of optometric law, Dr. Steinberg is also regularly asked to testify as an expert witness in disputes involving practice valuation (typically contract claims and marital dissolution) and standard of care issues in both payer audits and malpractice claims.
By way of background, Dr. Steinberg, is a 1980 graduate of the University of Southern California (USC), where, in addition to winning the individual Pac-10 Golf Championship and being a 2nd Team All-American, he also earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology. He then attended the University
of Missouri - St. Louis, School of Optometry and earned his O.D. (Doctor of Optometry). Dr. Steinberg has been licensed to practice optometry in California since 1984. After earning his J.D. (Juris Doctor) at the University of La Verne College of Law Dr. Steinberg obtained his license in California to practice law in 1996. Two years later, in 1998, he earned his NBEO certification in the Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease.
Shortly thereafter Dr. Steinberg became well known among optometrists for his legal efforts at reining in the illegal sales of contact lenses by various mail-order contact lens sellers and as a test-writing member of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry. Since that time Dr. Steinberg has become recognized across the United States as one of the few experts in optometric law, regularly being asked to speak at local and national conferences, writing for multiple optometric journals, speaking at local and national conferences, and representing optometrists in myriad legal matters, from practice acquisitions, insurance panel discipline defense, to litigation.
A founding member and former General Counsel for the American Optometric Society (AOS), Dr. Steinberg is a member of the American Optometric Association (AOA), the California Optometric Association (COA), the California Bar (Bar No. 181902), and the Healthcare Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA). He is admitted to practice law before all California Courts, including the California Courts of Appeal and the California Supreme Court, the Central District of California Federal Courts, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Along the way, as one of the top amateur golfers in America, he competed in 31 USGA Championships, including ten US Amateurs and two US Senior Opens, plus six R&A Championships. Though not licensed to practice law in courts outside of California, he is available for consulting in connection with optometric transactions and VSP audits in every state.
Practice Areas
Dr. Steinberg's law practice includes both general and business litigation and transactional services in the following areas of optometric and optometry related law:
- Practice sales and purchases, including Private Equity transactions;
- Lease preparation, review and negotiations;
- Compliance with State Optometry law and Board of Optometry rules and regulations;
- Partnership formation, Buy-Sell Agreements, and Incorporation;
- Employment Agreements and transactional issues pertaining to Multi-doctor practices;
- Business litigation, partnership disputes and dissolution, contract, fraud, unfair competition, interference with business opportunity, trade secrets, and related matters;
- Board of Optometry discipline and defense of State Board disciplinary accusations in California;
- Managed Care / VSP issues including disciplinary hearings, terminations and litigation;
- Employment issues, employment litigation defense, consultations and related issues;
- Insurance and Managed Care Discipline and Administrative Hearing Defense;
- Optometrist-Optician and Optometrist-Ophthalmologist Business Relationships.
If you have a legal issue that you want to discuss with Dr. Steinberg, please contact him promptly. Many legal issues must be acted upon in a timely manner or your rights may be lost. Please email Dr. Steinberg at:
