Pharmacist License Defense Services

Our Illinois Pharmacist License Defense Services

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians must meet strict requirements to receive professional licenses. Maintaining these licenses is essential to ensuring your pharmacy remains in business. 

At Williams & Nickl, we meet your pharmacist license defense challenges head-on.

If you’re facing any threats to your pharmacist license, work with us to address concerns and avoid disciplinary action. This is especially crucial when dealing with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

Defending Your Pharmacist License

Many issues can result in disciplinary action for pharmacists. Because you often deal with controlled substances, violations can not only affect your ability to remain in business but also result in criminal charges. 

We can help you address these and other issues:

• Unethical or unprofessional conduct
• Distribution and diversion of controlled substances
• Negligent or substandard pharmacy practices
• Sister-state discipline
• Criminal convictions and DUI arrests
• Failure to stay current on financial obligations
• Physical and/or mental impairment
• Sexual misconduct
• Healthcare fraud
• Substance abuse

You also may need to address Medicare/Medicaid compliance audits that influence whether you can provide services to program beneficiaries. 

Additionally, we can provide guidance and advice concerning the following:

• Initial registration
• Drug Distributor accreditation
• Compliance maintenance
• Wholesale Drug Distributor license and Drug Chain Supply Security Act enforcement

More Issues Affecting Your Pharmacist License

If the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating you in a controlled substance-involved case, we can help respond to the DEA’s requests. 

We ensure you provide the correct information and help avoid matters that could result in license discipline. In fact, we’ve helped clients in a wide variety of license defense cases involving controlled substances. 

If you’ve applied for a pharmacist license, you may receive an IDFPR request for background information. This request may take the form of a deficiency checklist. 

We can help you determine the best way to respond in these cases. If necessary, we can draft an explanation letter to the IDFPR and follow up with licensing officials to ensure it issues your license with no further delays.

Our Understanding of the Issues Affecting Your Case

Multiple statutes and regulations apply to the pharmacy practice, as well as the procedures the IDFPR follows in professional license discipline cases. 

We understand how the Illinois Pharmacy Practice Act (225 ILCS 85, et. seq.) and the Illinois Controlled Substances Act (720 ILCS 570/100, et seq.) may influence your case. Additionally, we know the processes the IDFPR follows under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act (5 ILCS 100/1-1, et. seq.) and the Administrative Procedures for General Professional Regulation (68 ILAC 1130.10, et. seq.). 

By working with an attorney who knows the applicable laws and how to address these cases before the Illinois Board of Pharmacy, you can ensure you take steps to minimize any consequences to your pharmacist license.

Responding to IDFPR Notices

You may receive an IDFPR notice or a formal complaint regarding disciplinary action to your license. These notices may include the following: 

• Notice of Preliminary Hearing
• Notice of Informal Conference
• Notice of Intent To Deny
• Notice of Intent To Refuse To Renew 

Consult with our attorneys about your options before responding to any notices or taking further action:

• Agreeing to an interview
• Providing the IDFPR with information 
• Surrendering your license 

We’ll provide you with a free one-hour consultation. During your consultation, we’ll help you understand your options and what to expect as we work with you to protect your license.

We’ll go through your unique situation:

• Assess your case
• Determine the discipline type you may encounter
• Help you understand the best defense strategy against disciplinary action

Why Enlist Williams & Nickl?

At Williams & Nickl, we have more than 55 combined years of experience prosecuting and defending professional licenses in Illinois. 

Attorney Edward W. Williams previously served as chief of prosecutions for the IDFPR. He and Attorney Fred Nickl have assisted more than 3,000 clients in addressing and resolving licensing issues. With our knowledge and experience, we’re precisely positioned to provide the legal help you need when facing pharmacist license discipline.

For example, we’ve assisted clients in a wide variety of defense cases concerning controlled substances.

In one successful case, we represented a surgeon who faced accusations of improperly prescribing opioids. We obtained a simple probation order for our client. Then, we were able to restore the surgeon’s medical license to unencumbered status.

Contact Us

Williams & Nickl is prepared to give you the legal help you need if you must address licensing issues that affect your ability to practice as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician. In many instances, we can help you entirely avoid public discipline to your professional pharmacy licenses.

And we’re alongside you all the way.

Call 312-335-9470, or contact us online to book your free consultation.