Best Lawyers Near You in Washington, District of Columbia for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Lars Golumbic serves as the co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice. His ERISA litigation practice includes the defense of “excessive fee” and ESOP class actions brought against plan sponsors, fiduciaries, and service providers. Lars also represents health plan sponsors and health insurers in actions brought under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. Additionally, Lars defends plan trustees, fiduciaries, companies and their board members, and service provide...
Joanna Kerpen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Joanna, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joanna is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Joanne Jacobson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Joanne, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joanne is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Harold J. Ashner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Harold J., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Harold J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Linda E. Rosenzweig is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Linda E., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Linda E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Damian Myers, based in Washington DC, is a partner in the Corporate practice group. He represents public and private companies and nonprofit organizations on matters related to employee benefits and executive compensation. My focus I provide ongoing advice to clients on a broad range of compliance issues, including ERISA, tax, corporate, and securities laws and regulations. Leading a team of ERISA attorneys, I focus on the design and administration of health and welfare benefit plans. I advis...
James V. Cole is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. James V., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James V. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Israel (Izzy) Goldowitz has more than 35 years of experience in employee benefits, most notably with mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, and bankruptcy as they affect pension plans. As the Chief Counsel for the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), Izzy led the legal teams that helped save the pensions of such companies as Chrysler and American Airlines. Working closely with financial analysts, actuaries and outside advisors, he also led the legal teams that negotiated pension pro...
Seth J. Safra is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Seth J., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Seth J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Spencer F. Walters is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Spencer F., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Spencer F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Justin S. Alex is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Justin S., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Justin S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jodi H. Epstein is a partner in Ivins, Phillips & Barker's Employee Benefits practice. She focuses on qualified plans, with particular expertise in integrations after acquisitions, setting up benefit platforms, and advising qualified plan committees regarding their fiduciary duties. Jodi’s practice includes day-to-day compliance issues, such as assisting with implementation of new legislation and regulations, filing determination letter applications for qualified plans, trouble-shoo...
Kevin P. O’Brien is a partner in the firm’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice. His practice has concentrated in employee compensation and benefits for over 30 years. Kevin is widely known as a leader in a wide variety of subjects, including innovative defined benefit plan design, flexible benefits, ERISA fiduciary matters and executive compensation. Before joining the firm, Kevin worked in the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration at the Labor Department ...
Jennifer Eller is co-chair of Groom’s Retirement Services Practice Group and Fiduciary Practice. She’s been with the firm since 1998, beginning as a law clerk, and has been a practicing attorney at Groom since 2000. As a practice group chair, Jenny ensures that the strategic direction and initiatives of the group position Groom to serve the needs of its financial, corporate, and public plan clients. In her practice, she operates from a similar perspective. She advises financial in...
Victor S. Chang is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Victor S., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Victor S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.