Liss to Receive the Alfred J. Chiplin, Jr. Social Justice & Advocacy Award in Acknowledgment of His Commitment to Healthcare Justice

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, is pleased to announce that Pro Bono Partner Luke Liss will be honored with the Alfred J. Chiplin, Jr. Social Justice & Advocacy Award from the Center for Medicare Advocacy. The award, named after Alfred J. (Chip) Chiplin, Jr., the esteemed former managing attorney of the Center’s Washington, D.C., office, is bestowed annually to an individual committed to advancing civility in society and advocating for social justice.

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Luke Liss, Pro Bono Partner, Wilson Sonsini (Photo: Business Wire)

“The Center for Medicare Advocacy is delighted to present Luke Liss with the Alfred J. Chiplin, Jr. Award,” said Judy Stein, the Executive Director/Attorney of the Center for Medicare Advocacy, which she founded in 1986. “Similar to Chip, Luke mixes a passion for justice and compassion for people with a determination to use the law to right wrongs. His keen intelligence and savvy have added invaluably to the Center’s litigation capabilities, strategic thinking, and tenacity. His clarity and partnership have helped us resolve many knotty decisions and dilemmas. Luke is a champion for people in need and – like Chip – his smile lights a room.”

Wilson Sonsini has partnered with the Center for Medicare Advocacy on multiple complex cases, each carrying significant implications for Medicare beneficiaries, who are primarily older or disabled individuals. With half of Medicare recipients living on less than $30,000 annually, their susceptibility to uncovered health expenses underscores the critical importance of understanding Medicare law, famously described as “among the most completely impenetrable texts within human experience” by an appeals court.

Notably, Liss and the Wilson Sonsini team, in conjunction with the Center for Medicare Advocacy and co-counsel Justice in Aging, contributed to a nationwide class action pivotal in establishing appeal rights for Medicare beneficiaries whose hospitalizations are reclassified from “inpatient” to “observation status.” Such classifications can force patients who cannot afford to pay for nursing home care to forgo required healthcare altogether because they cannot afford it without Medicare coverage. Prior to this decision, beneficiaries had no recourse to appeal to Medicare when their status changed. The case upheld fundamental due process principles and has subsequently aided thousands of beneficiaries in accessing essential healthcare services.

Moreover, Liss played a key role in the earlier landmark Jimmo v. Sebelius settlement, which confirmed that coverage of skilled nursing or therapy is available to anyone needing these services to maintain or slow deterioration, regardless of the underlying illness, disability, or injury. An editorial by The New York Times on October 24, 2012, titled, “A Humane Medicare Rule Change,” recognized the proposed settlement as reversing an “irrational and unfair approach to medical services” that developed “over decades because of Medicare’s fragmented and loosely administered process for handling beneficiary claims.” The editorial went on to praise the settlement as “clearly the humane thing to do for desperately sick people with little hope of recovery.”

Liss conveyed his profound appreciation for receiving the award, commenting, “It is an honor to accept the ‘Chip’ Award, which bears the name of a truly beautiful soul, advocate, and minister. His exemplary leadership in elder law, disability rights, and healthcare advocacy is a guiding light. The same could be said of my dear friends at the Center for Medicare Advocacy, who relentlessly continue Chip’s legacy through their crucial work every day.”

“I also want to express my deep gratitude to the Wilson Sonsini community and for the exemplary leadership of Managing Partner Doug Clark and Chair of the Board Katie Martin,” added Liss. “This is not a ‘me’ award, but a ‘we’ award. The spirit, innovation, and energy at Wilson Sonsini for advocating for our clients and communities—and supporting each other in those efforts—is truly special.”

Since assuming the role of the firm's first Pro Bono Partner in February 2022, Liss, and the Community Impact program at Wilson Sonsini, guided by him, have garnered significant acclaim. Recent standout achievements include Liss being named DEI Change Agent of the Year by Everlaw and being shortlisted among just 10 attorneys nationwide for Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year by Chambers USA. In addition, during this period, the firm has been recognized with the American Bar Association’s Pro Bono Publico Award; acknowledgment as a member of the inaugural "Pro Bono Innovators" class by Bloomberg Law; the Partner in Justice Award from the Center for Justice and Accountability; Pro Bono Partner of the Year by Elevate Community Center; the Keta Taylor Colby Award from the Lawyers Committee of Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area; and multiple Beacon of Justice Awards from the National Legal Aid & Defender Association.

Liss will receive the Alfred J. Chiplin, Jr. Award during the Center for Medicare Advocacy’s 11th Annual National Voices of Medicare Summit on April 24th at KFF's Barbara Jordan Conference Center in Washington, D.C., and via live webcast. The event brings together leaders from advocacy, policymaking, philanthropy, and academia to discuss strategies for improving access to comprehensive Medicare, promoting health equity, and ensuring quality healthcare. For further details and registration for this year's summit, please visit https://medicareadvocacy.org/summit-2024/.

About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini’s services and legal disciplines have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking legal counsel to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage governance and enterprise-scale matters; assist with intellectual property development, protection, and IP-driven transactions; represent them in contested disputes; and/or advise them on antitrust or other regulatory matters. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has more than 1000 attorneys and 19 offices in 17 technology, business, and regulatory markets across the United States, China, and Europe. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com.

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