Best Lawyers Near You in Washington, District of Columbia for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Christy Tinnes is involved in all aspects of health and welfare plans, including the Affordable Care Act, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). She represents large employers designing health plans as well as insurers designing new products. She frequently advises both employers and service providers on the legal requirements for wellness programs, including HIPAA, ADA, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. She also has significant experience working...
Ellen Goodwin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Ellen, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ellen is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
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.
Michael Junk is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Michael, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jonathan L. Holbrook is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Jonathan L., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jonathan L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
An expert on ERISA’s fiduciary rules and government regulation of health insurance, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Jon Breyfogle counsels numerous financial services firms, health insurers, and their D.C.-based trade associations on retirement and health matters. His practice includes advice on regulatory and legislative strategies, compliance, and defense of federal and state investigations. Jon has testified before Congress and at Department of Labor hearings on both retirem...
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.
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...
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...
Tamara Killion is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Tamara, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Tamara is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Mike Prame is seasoned trial attorney and counselor, with over two decades of experience representing clients in matters related to retirement and healthcare plans. His clientele is largely based in three primary sectors. First, he counsels businesses with underfunded defined benefit pension plans, particularly those plans under scrutiny by the PBGC. Second, Mike advises actuarial, benefit/investment consulting and recordkeeping firms that provide services in connection with retirement and he...
Thomas M. Cryan, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Tax Law. Thomas M., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Mr. Savage joined Ivins, Phillips & Barker's in 1963. Since 1968, before the development and enactment of ERISA, Mr. Savage’s practice has focused primarily on the benefits field for many years. He has been the senior partner in the firm’s Executive Compensation and Benefits practice. Mr. Savage has had extensive experience in advising clients on plan design and operational matters and in handling a comprehensive spectrum of legislative, regulatory, and compliance and controve...
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.