Our Team
Heather Sanderson, Dean
Heather Schwartz Sanderson is a nationally recognized legal expert in Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Compliance. With over 15 years of experience, she provides cutting-edge legal expertise, practical analysis, and expert technical guidance to the Property & Casualty Insurance market and legal communities. In 2021, Heather founded Sanderson Firm PLLC, committed to MSP compliance solutions and service excellence. Previously, she served as Chief Legal Officer for Franco Signor and contributed to MSP legislative reform in Washington D.C.
Brendon De souza, Assistant Dean
Brendon De Souza, a licensed attorney and Certified Medicare Secondary Payer Professional (CMSP), joined Sanderson Firm in 2021. With experience as in-house compliance counsel, he advises clients on MSP legal compliance, including lien resolution and litigation defense. Brendon has argued cases before Administrative Law Judges and advocated for legislation like the PAID Act in Congress. His legal background includes insurance and re-insurance law, and he served on the Stetson Law Review.
Kayla Pigeon, Faculty
Kayla Pigeon joined Sanderson Firm in January 2023 as the Recovery Department Director. She started her MSP compliance career in 2016 at Liberty Mutual Insurance, specializing in Conditional Payment handling. Kayla's expertise includes 1st-level contractor disputes, Department of Treasury liens, 3rd-level Medicare appeals, and Section 111 reporting. She also mentored and trained a team of 20 at Liberty Mutual and recently graduated from Syracuse University College of Law, becoming a licensed attorney. Kayla's focus remains on MSP Compliance with an emphasis on Conditional Payment Services.
Kristina Bonnano, Faculty
Kristina Bonanno joined Sanderson Firm in 2022 with years of MSP compliance experience. She started her Medicare Compliance career in 2016 as an attorney at a major MSP compliance provider. She later managed quality assurance and CMS submission teams at Franco Signor and directed a team of attorneys and paralegals at Verisk. Kristina is a licensed attorney and a Medicare Set-Aside Certified Consultant (MSCC). She specializes in advising clients on various MSP compliance issues, including CMS submission processes, re-reviews, and amended reviews. Kristina holds a Juris Doctor from New England Law Boston and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Florida.
Neha pellegrino, Faculty
Neha Pellegrino has a comprehensive background in Medicare Secondary Payer compliance, Workers’ Compensation, and client relations. As a licensed attorney and a Medicare Set-Aside Certified Consultant, Neha has been in the compliance field since 2010. Before joining Sanderson Firm, she served as Assistant Director of MSA Services at Verisk Analytics. Neha excels in understanding her client's diverse needs and strives for optimal claim outcomes. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Connecticut and her Juris Doctor cum laude from Suffolk University Law School in Boston, making her a member of the Massachusetts Bar.
Kathy Bell, Faculty
Kathy Bell boasts over 30 years in the insurance claims industry, working with both carriers and third-party administrators. She entered the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) field in 2017, where she assists clients with Medicare compliance, data review, and training. Kathy's career spans all aspects of liability and no-fault claims, including litigation, team supervision, and assistant claim management for a national client. She has held a CPCU designation since 2012, along with other designations and state adjuster licenses. Kathy serves as a faculty member for CLM Claim College Workers’ Compensation Level Two and presents at national Medicare webinars.
Gerardo Sanchez, Faculty
With over 22 years in the insurance claims industry, Gerardo Sanchez brings extensive experience to the MSP field. He managed large multi-state operations in liability and no-fault claims, including litigation. Since 2010, Gerardo has focused on Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) compliance, overseeing MSP Recovery and Medicare Section 111 reporting compliance for a major carrier for over 12 years. His expertise extends to claims system integrations, and he has conducted training in the US and internationally. Gerardo recently chaired the Medicare Advocacy Recovery Coalition (MARC), a national coalition advocating for MSP program improvements.