Best Lawyers Near You in Washington, District of Columbia for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
David Godofsky is a partner in the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group of Alston & Bird. He is chair of the Retirement and Benefits Committee of the firm, and during his tenure as Leader of the Employee Benefits Group (including ERISA Litigation) the firm was named “Law Firm of the Year” by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® for ERISA Litigation in 2016 and Employee Benefits (ERISA) in 2015 and 2017. David is part of the firm's team of litigators which repres...
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...
David Levine is co-chair of the firm’s employer-focused practice. He advises plan sponsors, advisors, and other service providers on a wide range of employee benefits matters, from retirement and executive compensation to health and welfare plan matters. David advises on the design and redesign of complex retirement, executive, and health and welfare plans; ongoing, day-to-day counseling of plan sponsors; in-depth compliance reviews of corporate and governmental benefit programs; altern...
Jeff Witt is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Tax Law. Jeff practices law in Washington, District of Columbia Best Lawyers has recognized Jeff Witt since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Jeff Witt is held by other lawyers.
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...
James V. Cole is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. James V. practices law in Washington, District of Columbia Best Lawyers has recognized James V. Cole since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which James V. Cole is held by other lawyers.
Thomas Roberts is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Thomas practices law in Washington, District of Columbia Best Lawyers has recognized Thomas Roberts since 2027. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Thomas Roberts is held by other lawyers.
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...
Mark L. Stember is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Mark L. practices law in Washington, District of Columbia Best Lawyers has recognized Mark L. Stember since 2010. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Mark L. Stember is held by other lawyers.
Elizabeth Drake is a principal in the firm’s Plan Sponsor group. Her practice covers Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) and tax requirements applicable to retirement plans and non-qualified arrangements, health and welfare benefits and fringe benefit programs. In recent years, Elizabeth’s practice has focused on counseling and advocacy work on behalf of large plan sponsors on complex and sensitive matters primarily involving their defined benefit pension...
Rina Fujii is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Rina practices law in Washington, District of Columbia Best Lawyers has recognized Rina Fujii since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Rina Fujii is held by other lawyers.
Alexander Maged is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Alexander practices law in Washington, District of Columbia Best Lawyers has recognized Alexander Maged since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Alexander Maged is held by other lawyers.
Adam Calandra assists clients with complex labor and employment matters. Adam counsels clients on matters related to employee benefits and provides them with creative problem-solving and unique solutions to the problems they face. He offers clients a distinctive perspective on government regulations and policies, informed by his time as a general attorney for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Office of Chief Counsel. Adam has experience researching case law and writing memoranda...
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.
