Linden Barber

Insightful DEA regulatory counsel grounded in deep experience across government, in-house and private practice

Linden Barber advises a variety of companies and health care organizations and practitioners on Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulatory matters, as well as a broad range of compliance and enforcement issues involving the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and state-controlled substances laws and regulations. His clients include:

• Manufacturers
• Wholesale distributors
• Pharmacies
• Hospitals and individual practitioners relating to their obligations under CSA and DEA's regulations
• Registrants in administrative and civil litigation matters in actions brought under the CSA

As an attorney, former health care executive and retired Army officer, Linden is adept at solving complex problems by building collaborative partnerships and developing a strategic vision designed to accomplish an organization's goals.

Linden, who previously was a partner at Quarles from 2011-2017, rejoins the firm after serving as executive vice president, quality and regulatory affairs and chief regulatory counsel at Cardinal Health. Prior to his initial stint at Quarles, Linden served as the head of DEA’s enforcement litigation section and a judge advocate for the U.S. Army with assignments as a prosecutor, defense counsel and legal advisor to the National Security Agency, the Army’s military intelligence brigade in Korea and corps support group in Iraq.

• Advises clients on regulatory compliance matters and the interpretation of federal and state laws related to controlled substances.
• Represents clients in DEA administrative actions, civil penalty matters and Board of Pharmacy proceedings.
• Provides guidance on the design, implementation and operation of systems to facilitate compliance with federal and state-controlled substances laws and regulations.

• Resolved DEA administrative matters for clients facing possible revocation of DEA registrations.
• Designed and advised client on implementing suspicious order monitoring program.
• Negotiated multijurisdictional civil penalty matter resulting in nationwide release from liability.
• Persuaded DEA to withdraw a Letter of Admonition issued to a client.