HOUSTON, TX, July 08, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Jose Vela Jr., JD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Currently serving as a partner at Clark Hill PLC in Houston, Texas, and Chicago, Illinois, Mr. Vela has established a remarkable career in the legal field. Since 2021, he has helped healthcare professionals and organizations avoid, respond to, or defend against government or commercial payor audits, investigations, administrative actions, civil lawsuits, or criminal prosecutions. Mr. Vela has advised and counseled healthcare professionals and organizations on investment, mergers, acquisitions, or private equity in healthcare enterprises. Lauded for his ability to navigate complex legal challenges with precision and dedication, he is widely recognized for his expertise in health care fraud litigation.

Before joining Clark Hill, Mr. Vela served as a federal prosecutor with the United States Department of Justice from 1999 to 2021. During this time, he held various positions, including healthcare lawyer and managing attorney, where he was instrumental in handling healthcare fraud and commercial litigation cases as a lead trial lawyer. His tenure at the Department of Justice was marked by significant achievements, including a notable investigation into healthcare fraud at a county-owned Texas hospital in 2015, which resulted in a $23.5 million settlement. Furthermore, for this settlement he was honored with the prestigious Big Money Wins award for the No. 4 settlement in the United States under the Health Care False Claims Act by The National Law Journal. Additionally, he played a key role in prosecuting two Houston ophthalmologists for fraudulent Medicare billing practices, resulting in a $120 million judgment against each doctor, which further highlights his dedication to justice.

Mr. Vela's storied legal career began at the Kane County State's Attorney's Office in St. Charles, Illinois, where he served as an Assistant State's Attorney from 1993 to 1999. His work focused on the investigation and prosecution of state and county law violations, including public health, environmental, zoning, and building permits. Before that, he gained valuable experience as a summer associate at Thompson & Knight LLP in Dallas and Gardner Carton & Douglas, LLC (now Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP) in Chicago in 1991. He also interned with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Regional Counsel in Chicago in 1990.

In addition to his legal career, Mr. Vela served with distinction in the United States Army and United States Army Reserve from 1983 to 2024, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel. His military service also included roles as commander and executive officer, where he demonstrated outstanding leadership and strategic acumen and was recognized with four Army Commendation Medals and two Meritorious Service Medals. His military career culminated with his service as the chief of plans, G-3 for a Major Army Command (5 divisions and 15 brigades, 22,500 service members).

Mr. Vela's accomplished academic background includes dual bachelor's degrees from the University of Notre Dame: a Bachelor of Arts in government with a concentration in international relations and a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, both earned in 1987. He also holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, earned in 1992, and a Master of Laws in Health Law from the University of Houston Law Center, completed in 2008. To expand his legal qualifications, he is admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS), numerous United States District Courts, and several United States Courts of Appeal. Mr. Vela is licensed to practice law in Texas by the State Bar of Texas and in Illinois by the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois.

Throughout his career, Mr. Vela has been actively involved in professional organizations such as the American Bar Association, American Bar Foundation, Federal Bar Association, American Health Law Association, American College of Healthcare Executives, Health Care Compliance Association, Illinois Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, Texas Bar College, Chicago Bar Association, Houston Bar Association, Army Engineer Association, and Hispanic Bar Association. Equally committed to helping those in need through community-focused initiatives, he takes part in volunteer work with charitable organizations like the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots, Bridgeland Orchestra Booster Association, and Cy-Fair Girls Athletic Association. In addition, Mr. Vela has given lectures or mentored high school, college, or law students at DePaul University and the University of Houston.

In his personal life, Mr. Vela is a proud husband and father of two daughters and enjoys running to maintain an active lifestyle. Looking to the future, he aims to continue providing an exceptional level of service for his clients that helps them successfully defeat legal challenges, achieve their highest professional goals, and deliver the highest level of patient care. He takes great joy and fulfillment in helping people solve their legal issues, reflecting a legacy of fighting for the well-being of others in all he does.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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