Education

  • B.A., University of Oklahoma, 1978
  • J.D., University of Oklahoma College of Law, 1981

About

Karen Rieger is an Adjunct Professor in the Master of Legal Studies and LL.M. program in Healthcare Law. She is recognized by her clients and peers throughout Oklahoma as an authority on healthcare legal issues and issues affecting nonprofit corporations. She joined Crowe & Dunlevy in 1981 and is a member and Chair Emeritus of the firm’s Healthcare practice group. Karen received a B.A. Degree in Journalism (with distinction) and a J.D. Degree (with honors) from the University of Oklahoma.

Her practice includes representation of healthcare institutions and practitioners throughout Oklahoma and surrounding states on a broad range of health law issues including: the Affordable Care Act, the Anti-Kickback and Stark laws, HIPAA privacy and security requirements, laws affecting tax-exempt and governmental healthcare providers, Medicare reimbursement rules, medical staff issues and others. She has been involved in structuring numerous acquisitions, joint ventures and contracts involving healthcare providers.

Karen is a past chair of the OBA Health Law Section, and has served on the Board of Editors of the Oklahoma Bar Journal and on the Awards Committee. She serves as a director of the Oklahoma Health Lawyers Association and is an active member of the American Health Law Association, as a frequent seminar presenter, dispute resolver and author of The Medical Staff Guidebook: Minimizing Risks and Maximizing Collaboration (2016 Edition). Karen served as an associate bar examiner for the Oklahoma Bar Association and is a member of the American Bar Association’s Health Law and Business Association sections. 

Karen has served on a number of civic and charitable boards over the years, and currently serves on the Boards of Christo Rey, Canterbury Voices and Moore Norman Technology Foundation. She was a member of Leadership Oklahoma Class XXII.

Additional Information

"The Medical Staff Guidebook: Minimizing the Risks and Maximizing Collaboration, Fourth Edition" (Author), American Health Law Association, 2016

Change in OPPS Reimbursement, The Oklahoman Q&A, December 2015

Unique Anti-Referral Laws: How They Affect Business Arrangements in the Health Care Industry, Oklahoma Bar Journal, January 2015

2 Midnight Rule, The Oklahoman Q&A, August 2014

HIPAA Update, The Oklahoman article, August 2014

2 Midnight Rule, Modern Healthcare Interview, 2014

Ranked Band 1 in Chambers USA in Corporate/Commercial Healthcare (2010 – Present)

Named Best Lawyers 2025 Lawyer of the Year in Corporate Governance Law

Named Best Lawyers 2012 and 2014 Lawyer of the Year (Oklahoma City) in the field of Health Care Law

Named Best Lawyers 2013 and 2015 Lawyer of the Year (Oklahoma City) in the field of Compliance

Listed in Best Lawyers in the field of Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Health Care Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Non-Profit/Charities Law (1991 – Present)

Named Top 25 Women Super Lawyers in Oklahoma 

Ranked in Super Lawyers in Healthcare and Not-for-Profit Entities  (2006 – Present)

Received two Leadership in Law awards

Twice recognized as a finalist for the Woman of the Year Award by the Journal Record

Fellow of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation

2015 OBA Mona Lambird Spotlight Award

2018 University of Oklahoma Gaylord College Distinguished Alumni Award

American Bar Association, Business Association Member (1981 – Present)

American Bar Association, Health Law Section Member (1981 – Present)

Oklahoma Bar Association, Associate Bar Examiner (2010 – 2018)

Oklahoma Bar Association, Awards Committee (1996 – 2010)

Oklahoma Bar Association, Oklahoma Bar Journal Board of Editors (1996 – 2000)

Oklahoma Bar Association, Public Information Committee (2001 – 2002)

Oklahoma Bar Association, Health Law Section, Chairperson, 1995

Oklahoma Bar Association, Health Law Section, Chairperson (1994 and 2014)

Oklahoma Bar Association, Health Law Section, Secretary (1993 and 2013)

Oklahoma Bar Association, Health Law Section, Treasurer (1992 and 2012)

Oklahoma Bar Association, Law Day Committee (1983 – 1988)

Oklahoma Bar Association, Law Day Chairman, 1988

Oklahoma Bar Association, Business Associations Section

Oklahoma County Bar Association, Law Day Committee (1983 – 1984)

Oklahoma County Bar Association, Briefcase Newsletter Committee (1982 – 1985)

Oklahoma County Bar Association, Co-Editor, Briefcase Newsletter (1983 – 1985)

Oklahoma County Bar Association, Public Affairs and Media Relations Committee, 1987

Oklahoma County Bar Association, Alternate Delegate to OBA Convention (1985 – 1986)

Cleveland County Bar Association

American Health Law Association, Co-Chair, Long-Term Care Practice Group (1997 – 2001)

Oklahoma Health Lawyers Association, President (2000 – 2001)

Oklahoma Health Lawyers Association, Vice President (1999 – 2000)

Oklahoma Health Lawyers Association, Secretary/Treasurer (1998 – 1999)

Oklahoma Health Lawyers Association, Director (1997 – Present)

Oklahoma Health Lawyers Association, Member, COBRA Task Force, 1990