Ms. Stearns has a wide range of political and legislative experience. In her role at the firm, she provides strategic counsel to an array of clients to develop and implement legislative and regulatory strategies, with a focus on healthcare matters.
In recent years, Ms. Stearns has been featured on the ROI-NJ “Influencers: Power List” in both the Government Affairs and Healthcare categories. She has also been recognized on the NJBIZ “Health Care Power List” for several years and is listed in the most recent edition of Best Lawyers® in the Government Relations category. She previously served as Vice President of Health & Legal Affairs for the New Jersey Business & Industry Association for many years.
Ms. Stearns serves on the board of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, a nonprofit foundation working to ensure quality, accountability, and cost containment in New Jersey, and the Community Health Law Project.
Rutgers School of Law – Camden|Rutgers University – Eagleton Institute of Politics|Rutgers University – Douglass Residential College
J.D.|M.S.|B.A.
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Listed in Best Lawyers®, Government Relations
Named to the ROI-NJ “Influencers Power List: Government Affairs,” 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022
Named to InsiderNJ‘s list of “New Jersey’s Irish American Leaders,” 2022
Selected to the ROI-NJ “Influencers: Women in Business” list, 2021, 2022
Recipient, “Equal Justice Award” from Legal Services of New Jersey, 2019
Named a “Top Policy Expert” on the ROI-NJ “Health Care Influencers” list, 2018, 2019
Named to Senator Loretta Weinberg’s Women’s Power List. 2015, 2016. 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Named to the NJBIZ Health Care Power 50 list, 2011-2014, 2016, 2017
Named one of New Jersey’s “Best 50 Women in Business” by NJBIZ, 2016
New Jersey State Bar Association
Bipartisan Coalition for Women’s Appointments
Advisory Committee Member, 2017-present
Governor-elect Murphy’s Health Care Advisory Group, 2017
Community Health Law Project
Board Member
New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute
Board, 2011-present
Gibbons Law Alert blog (www.gibbonslawalert.com)
Editorial Board
National Quality Forum’s Cardiovascular
Steering Committee, 2011-2012
Mercer County Improvement Authority
Assistant Treasurer, 2008-2015
Health Care Payers Coalition
Board Member, 2005-2007
Co-Chair, 2007-2013
Health Care Administration Board
Member, 2006-2015
New Jersey Individual Health Coverage Program Board
Member, 2005-2015
New Jersey Society for Economic & Environmental Development (SEED)
Trustee, 2005-2015
Small Employer Health Coverage Program Board
Member, 2004-2015
Commerce & Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ)
Healthcare Roundtable Steering Committee, 2015-present
Eagleton Institute of Politics Alumni
Steering Committee, 2006-2011
PAM’s List
Board of Directors, 1997-present
Chair, 2002-2011
Governor-elect Corzine Health Care Advisory Group
Co-Chair, 2006
Governor-elect McGreevy’s Agriculture Transition Team
Member, 2002
Women’s Political Caucus of NJ
Board Member, 1998-2006