J. René "René" Toadvine

J. René "René" Toadvine

Charlotte, NC recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2013
Littler

257 Best Lawyers awards

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Awarded Practice Areas

Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law

Biography

J. René Toadvine maintains a nationwide practice that focuses on representing management in all facets of employee benefits matters, including:

  • Employee benefits tax issues
  • The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and benefits planning
  • Executive compensation
  • Employee benefits in mergers and acquisitions
  • Bank finance and ERISA issues in securitizations

    René designs and drafts all types of employee benefits and executive compensation plans with adherence to compliance regulations, including:

    • Qualified and non-qualified retirement plans
    • Health and welfare plans
    • Severance plans
    • Disability plans
    • Equity compensation
    • Deferred compensation

      Appearing before administrative agencies, including the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, and the Department of Labor, René has specific knowledge of:

      • ERISA
      • 409A
      • Internal Revenue Code
      • The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
      • The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)

        René represents a wide variety of companies, including:

        • Manufacturing
        • Distribution
        • Retail
        • Health Care
        • Cable
        • Technology
        • Engineering
        • Real estate

          René is the office managing shareholder of Littler Mendelson's Charlotte, North Carolina, and Columbia, South Carolina, offices, and also currently serves on Littler's Board of Directors. Additionally, he is a member of the Level A to B Write-On Subcommittee and a core member of the Employee Benefits Leadership Group.

          Before joining Littler, René was a partner and counsel at two other law firms. Prior to attending law school, René practiced as a senior actuarial analyst in the life and health insurance industry.

Littler

257 Best Lawyers awards

Littler logo

Overview

  • Indiana University Maurer School of Law, J.D., graduated 1993
  • Northern Kentucky University, BS

  • District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar
  • North Carolina, North Carolina Bar Association
  • Kentucky, Kentucky Bar Association

  • American Bar Association - Member
  • Charlotte Benefits Forum - Member
  • Hickory Grove Christian School Board - Member
  • Southern Employee Benefits Conference - Member
  • District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar
  • North Carolina, North Carolina Bar Association
  • Kentucky, Kentucky Bar Association
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • Charlotte Benefits Forum - Member
  • Hickory Grove Christian School Board - Member
  • Southern Employee Benefits Conference - Member
  • Indiana University Maurer School of Law, J.D., graduated 1993
  • Northern Kentucky University, BS

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Employment Law - Management
  • Labor Law - Management
  • Litigation - ERISA
Awards:
  • Order of the Coif

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