Starting her legal career in 2008, Virginia E. McGarrity has dedicated her time in the field of law to working as a full-time attorney, with her primary focus and practice area being Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. In 2017, with nearly a decade of legal experience under her belt at the Connecticut-based firm Robinson & Cole LLP, McGarrity was promoted to partner.
In addition to representing clients through ERISA-based legal issues, McGarrity also counsels clients in complex matters that may arise under specific employee benefit plans, executive compensation arrangements, the Internal Revenue Code, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), as well as other related federal and state employment laws.
As a noted ERISA lawyer, author and public speaker, McGarrity has successfully represented Fortune 500 companies and other private entities within the hospitality, healthcare and higher education sectors throughout the U.S. Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2018, McGarrity is currently being honored as “Lawyer of the Year” for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law in Hartford for 2023, which marks her second time receiving this prestigious award (the first in 2021).
Of her practice area, McGarrity stated: “I enjoy working with and developing long-term relationships with a broad range of clients across multiple industries while meeting the challenge of a constantly evolving employee benefits landscape. Over the past year, employers and benefits professionals have grappled with employee recruitment and retention, rising benefits costs, hybrid and remote work models and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, there have been significant judicial and regulatory developments in the field of employee benefits affecting employers and their businesses. It is my role to help clients successfully navigate these complex planning considerations, and avoid compliance pitfalls, so they can better focus on everyday business concerns.”
McGarrity attributes knowing her audience to her continued success within the practice area. For McGarrity, being able to listen to clients effectively, understand their problems and distill often complex legal matters into clear, strategic advice can be paramount and make all the difference in the result of a case. “A great attorney always knows their audience and can adopt a multifaceted perspective while shaping effective communications that drive action,” McGarity stated.
McGarrity is also an active part of other initiatives outside the courtroom. She is a regular contributing author to her firm’s online blog, Data Privacy + Security Insider, and provides lectures nationwide on health care reform, ERISA and ongoing HIPAA issues. She was also recently appointed Vice-Chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity + Inclusion committed. Of her firms’ work, she stated, “I am incredibly proud of Robison & Cole’s commitment to increasing representation in leadership and the field of law.”
