A blank January morning in 2021 carried more risk than comfort, yet it also offered a clean page. Heather Sanderson, chief executive officer of Sanderson Firm PLLC, stepped onto that page and built a practice where Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) compliance and settlement planning are handled with equal parts rigor and human care so outcomes arrive faster with less friction.
Sanderson made the firm indispensable by serving nationwide carriers and governmental entities bound by the MSP Act. The team built customized Medicare compliance programs for large claim operations, delivered targeted training that shortened cycle times and introduced an Indemnified Medicare Set-Aside that reduces risk during complex resolutions. Thought leadership became a standing duty through national webinars and continuing legal education that clarified fast-shifting obligations. Results followed as top line revenue increased 55% last year and the legal and compliance bench grew to 55 employees by June, tangible proof that expertise paired with teaching can scale.
The origin story still reads like a field note. When her prior employer closed during 2020, she left stability to launch on January 1, 2021. For months she was a team of one—attorney, accountant, salesperson and administrator—working through a taxing first year to prove the model. Momentum compounded as market share grew, culminating in recognition on the Inc. 5000 as the number two fastest growing company in the Southeast. A Titan 100 Honoree, Sanderson treats milestones as fuel to serve better, not finish lines to rest upon.
The firm’s future of work blends people and precision tools. A hybrid model enables collaboration, productivity and flexibility while analytics and automation accelerate analysis without eclipsing judgment. Sanderson launched MSPCollege with credential paths including MSPA and MSACP so professionals gain practical mastery aligned to real cases. More than 150 graduates now navigate compliance with confidence. Cross-disciplinary development builds adaptability, critical thinking and technological fluency so teams anticipate regulatory shifts rather than react to them.
Energy stays high because the mission is tangible. Sanderson keeps a direct line to clients who often face stressful decisions at vulnerable moments, and she connects daily activity to outcomes that protect people. She writes, teaches and presents on national stages, then brings that momentum back to staff through transparent leadership that celebrates wins, invites new ideas and insists on clarity. The vision remains ambitious and grounded. She will continue growing a consultative authority for MSP compliance and settlement planning known for dependable turnaround and plain-language guidance while investing in automation, artificial intelligence and great people.
What distinguishes Sanderson is a blend of legal rigor, operational discipline and a teacher’s instinct. She built a modern practice that helps clients resolve complex settlement challenges with confidence, then reinforced it with education that lifts an entire industry. From a single desk to a national platform, the brief on her leadership reads the same—serve well, explain clearly and deliver results that stand up to scrutiny.
