Meet the DHS Chief Counsel
David Sterling serves as Chief Counsel, a position he’s held since 2015. In this role, he oversees the largest legal Department in state government with a staff of about 162 employees, including over 80 attorneys. The Office of Chief Counsel provides legal support to the Department’s various program divisions and offices. Prior to joining DHS, David practiced business and commercial litigation for 16 years in the private sector. David earned his law degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law in 1997. He also holds a Master of Public Administration and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas and the Arkansas Supreme Court. David has been actively involved in leadership in the American and Arkansas Bar Associations for over 20 years. He is currently President of the Henry Woods Chapter of the American Inns of Court, Co-Chair of the Health Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation, a tenured delegate to the Arkansas Bar Association’s House of Delegates, and an active member of the Pulaski County Bar Association. David is married to his wife, Deeni, and they are parents to their daughter, Elizabeth Anne. They have been active members of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock since 1994.
Office Overview
The Office of Chief Counsel consists of six sections which provide extensive legal, investigative and hearing services to the Department.
The Office of Public Guardian unit is responsible for the care of incapacitated individuals who have become wards through an application process as mandated by statute. Applications may be presented to this office by any concerned citizen but most applications are submitted by medical professionals, long term care providers, other DHS units and family members. If the Office approves the application, the Office will petition a court for guardianship of the ward and, if appointed, may serve the guardian of the person, the estate, or both.
The Office of Appeals and Hearings conducts administrative hearings and makes the final agency decisions for the Department regarding appealed actions. A request for an administrative hearing may concern Medicaid, Maltreatment, SNAP, or a number of other agency programs.
The Appellate Section provides statewide legal representation to the Department of Human Services in the areas of child welfare and adult protective services.
Also provides legal assistance and representation on administrative matters, litigation pertaining to delivery of services, program administration,and overpayment collections.
The Office of Employee Relations/Office of Equal Opportunity processes employee grievances, mediations, administrative review hearings, and State Employee Grievance Appeal Panel (SEGAP) hearings. This office provides technical assistance to employees regarding work related concerns. This office also ensures compliance with federal and state civil rights/anti-discrimination laws, regulations, methods of administration, executive orders, etc., and investigates client complaints of discrimination and rude/discourteous treatment.
The Regulatory Section provides legal assistance and representation on contracts, privacy section matters, employment law, personnel, civil rights and rules promulgation issues for the agency.
The Privacy Section ensures the Agency’s compliance with HIPAA and privacy laws. It is also responsible for handling subpoenas, record requests, authorizations for information, and compliance with court orders.
Contact Information
| Office | Address | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulatory Section | P.O. Box 1437 – Slot S260 Little Rock, AR 72203-1437 | Ph 501-682-1363 Fax: 501-682-8009 | |
| Appeals and Hearings | P.O. Box 1437 – Slot N401 Little Rock, AR 72203-1437 | 501-682-8622 Fax: 501-682-6605 | |
| Employee Relation & Equal Opportunity | P.O. Box 1437 – Slot N250 Little Rock, AR 72203-1437 | 501-682-6003 Fax: 501-682-7952 | |
| Privacy Section | P.O. Box 1437 – Slot S2 60 Little Rock, AR 72203-1437 | 501-320-6475 Fax: 501-683-4829 | |
| Appellate Section | P.O. Box 1437 – Slot S260 Little Rock, AR 72203-1437 | 501-320-6334 Fax: 501-682-6720 | |
| Office of Public Guardian | P.O. Box 1437 – Slot W105 Little Rock, AR 72203-1437 | 888-397-2430 Fax: 501-682-1483 |
Staff
| Name | Title | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| David Sterling | Chief Counsel | 501-320-6355, Fax: 501-682-8009 |
| Sarah Linam | Chief Deputy Counsel – Regulatory | 501-682-1363, Fax: 501-682-8009 |
| Rich Rosen | Chief Deputy Counsel – Appellate | 501-320-6334, Fax: 501-682-1390 |
| Anna Imbeau | Managing Attorney, County Legal Operations | 501-320-3935, Fax: 501-682-8009 |
| Ashley Vailes, Interim | Managing Administrative Law Judge, Appeals and Hearings | 501-682-8622, Fax: 501-682-6605 |
| Reginald Cleaver | Office of Employee Relations | 501-682-7952, Fax: 501-682-8926 |
| Kitten Dixon | Office Manager, Office of Chief Counsel | 501-320-6378, Fax: 501-682-8009 |
| Hudson Vanderhoff | DHS Privacy Officer | 501-320-6560 |
| Carolyn Singleton | Public Guardian for Adults | 888-397-2430, Fax: 501-682-1483 |
OCC Documents & Forms
| Documents | Doc Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Application for Public Guardian | 09/22/2020 | |
| Adoption Information Sheet | 09/20/2011 |
