Find Lawyers in America for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Select a location from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
State
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law - America
About this Practice AreaJoseph (Joe) S. Adams focuses his practice exclusively on employee benefits and executive compensation, and has represented some of the largest companies in the world and many prominent "C-suite" executives with respect to such matters. Please read more here: https://www.winston.com/en/who-we-are/professionals/adams-joseph-s.html
Norris is a civil litigator with a practice emphasis on ERISA litigation. He regularly represents clients in ERISA matters at both the administrative level and in federal court, including short- and long-term disability benefit claims, retirement and pension benefit claims, all levels of health benefit coverage denial claims, life insurance claims, accidental death and dismemberment claims, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and other employee benefit matters. Norris is a frequent speaker and l...
Mark sues insurance companies when they fail to pay claims. Varnum represents only insureds in these matters. Mark has helped shape the landscape of Michigan Insurance Law since 1985.He is regularly asked to speak on insurance issues for continuing legal education programs, and at other bar related activities. Mark is also Varnum's lead attorney in litigation matters dealing with employee benefit issues under ERISA. He has handled all facets of employee benefit litigation, from benefit claims...
Michele brings extensive experience to her practice which has resulted in recognitions and honors including being named by her peers in Delaware Today Magazine as a Top Lawyer in the area of Labor & Employment Law.While with Wier & Allen, P.A., Michele contributed to the firm being recognized by U.S. News and World Report with a Best Law Firm designation in the area of Employment and Labor Law. Michele was also recently honored by being selected by Speaker Pete Schwartzkopft to be a m...
William Altman practices in the areas of labor, employment, and benefits litigation on behalf of private and public sector employers. He has extensive experience representing employers in cases involving anti-discrimination laws, whistle-blower and retaliation actions, ERISA actions, non-competition agreements, trade secrets, fiduciary duty actions, and class actions. William defends employers in state and federal courts and before state and federal agencies. He has particular experience defe...
Mina Amir-Mokri practices broadly in the area of employee benefits and executive compensation. A clear, concise communicator, Mina is appreciated for her creativity, productive and balanced approach to negotiation, and practical, streamlined solutions to the often complex challenges her clients face. Mina’s clients include executives, public and private companies, tax-exempt organizations and bankruptcy constituencies. She negotiates, designs and drafts compensation arrangements, stock ...
Cindy L. Andrews serves as a director in the Firm’s Oklahoma City office. A practitioner since 1994, Cindy brings to Crowe & Dunlevy experience in several areas of law, including employee benefits, trusts and estates, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, taxation, and partnership. A certified public accountant (inactive), Cindy holds several licenses to practice law, including the U.S. District Court (Western District of Oklahoma) and the U.S. Tax Court. Recognized in her field, ...
Jane Armstrong practices in the area of employee benefits and executive compensation, with over 30 years of experience in the area. Her practice includes representation of private and public employers in the design, implementation and administration of tax-qualified retirement plans, including 401(k) plans, defined benefit plans and ESOPs, and representation of plan fiduciaries. She represents boards and compensation committees of public companies and not-for-profit entities in executive comp...
Irwin W. Aronson is the partner in residence of Willig, Williams & Davidson’s Harrisburg, Pa., office. A respected appellate advocate, Irwin concentrates his practice in labor and employment law, employee benefit matters, governmental affairs and legislative drafting and analysis. He possesses a broad range of experience in litigation and legislative matters ranging from fair labor standards and unemployment compensation, to housing and urban development, to elections and voting rig...
Mr. August is a shareholder in the firm. Mr. August has been with the firm since 1994. He is a certified specialist in the fields of both Taxation Law, and Estate Planning and Probate by The Supreme Court of South Carolina. He is listed in the book The Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Bursiness Organizations, Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates Law. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree, magna cum laude ...
Bethany Bacci counsels public and private employers on employee benefit program compliance and design. This includes qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, health and welfare programs, fringe benefit programs, and executive compensation arrangements. In an evolving regulatory environment, Bethany partners with clients to stay on top of legal developments and current industry trends, such as pension derisking and self-funding health benefits. She represents plan sponsors in devising, neg...
Jeffrey J. Bakker represents companies with respect to a wide array of executive compensation and employee benefit matters, including: designing and preparing deferred compensation and equity compensation plans; ensuring tax and ERISA compliance of qualified and non-qualified retirement plans (including defined contribution, defined benefit and cash balance plans); advising clients as to their fiduciary responsibilities with respect to employee benefit plans; and counseling clients on the adm...
James draws on more than 20 years of litigation experience to provide effective representation to clients involved in a variety of complex commercial disputes. Businesses from a broad array of industries trust James to successfully guide them through litigation. James practices litigation in a variety of legal fields, including commercial litigation, real estate litigation, employment litigation, and employee benefits litigation. He has extensive experience in complex commercial disputes, esp...
Ronald A. Bell is a Director in the Cincinnati Office of Coats Rose, P.C. He maintains a multidisciplinary practice that encompasses capital markets (public finance, asset securitization, and other capital raising transactions), tax credits, and employee benefits/ERISA, executive compensation, and affordable housing. Ron was named to the Best Lawyers in America list 2018-2020, published by Woodward White Inc., for the areas of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Tax Law. Capital Markets Ron mai...
Brenda provides invaluable insight to employers on a wide array of tax and ERISA matters affecting employee benefit plans. She has over 20 years of experience as an employee benefits attorney plus a background in accounting and third-party 401(k) plan administration. Brenda’s advice ranges from the initial design and drafting stage, through the day-to-day administration questions and complications that arise. Brenda has extensive experience with 401(k), defined benefit, health and welfa...
Frank E. Berrodin is a Member of the firm and has been practicing law since 1987. Mr. Berrodin’s practice is devoted primarily to employee benefit and executive compensation issues, particularly the design, drafting and administration of qualified and non-qualified retirement and welfare plans for both taxable and tax-exempt entities. A significant portion of Mr. Berrodin’s practice involves the resolution of disputes that arise between employers and employees regarding the benefi...
Melissa Foster Bird is a partner in Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough’s West Virginia office. She has served as lead trial counsel in more than 30 trials in state and federal courts in West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia. Her experience includes representing clients in complex cases in the pharmaceutical, medical device, transportation, and chemical industries—including other manufacturers, retailers, and convenience stores—in some of the most difficult venues i...
Rich Birmingham has over 30 years of experience in both employee benefit consulting and ERISA litigation. He is one of the few lawyers in the country who is listed in "Best Lawyers in America" in two employee benefit categories—ERISA law and ERISA litigation. His command of both the substantive and litigation areas of ERISA enable him to give practical proactive advice when consulting with clients and to obtain early dismissal or settlement when litigating ERISA matters. Rich is a frequ...
John Blackman is a partner in the Tax Practice Group. He focuses on employee benefit plans, estate planning, and individual, corporate, and pass-through entity income tax planning. John has drafted qualified plans, employment agreements, and deferred compensation plans; has advised and represented clients on tax and ERISA matters, including Internal Revenue Code Section 409A; and has frequently represented clients in matters involving ERISA litigation. He works with clients to draft complex w...
Named in the Best Lawyers in America, Joe's practice focuses on business, tax planning and succession planning issues, particularly for closely held, family-owned businesses and professional medical and legal practices. Joe has an extensive employee benefits practice and drafts retirement and welfare plans, assists clients with respect to cafeteria plans, group life insurance plans, self-insured medical plan and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, such as rabbi trusts, secular trusts, ...
Employee benefits lawyer, Susan Bahme Blumenfeld, counsels public and private-sector single and multi-employer pension and welfare funds on a full range of comprehensive benefits and tax issues. Susan advises plan administrators and trustees on the day-to-day administration and operation of pension and welfare funds, including the requirements imposed on employee benefit plans by the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA and other federal and state laws. She works with welfare funds regarding opera...
For a number of clients, Nicole serves as an extension of their benefits and rewards department, designing compliant total rewards programs that facilitate her clients’ business objectives. For publicly traded and private companies, predominately in the financial services, healthcare and restaurant sectors, as well as tax-exempt entities, Nicole regularly advises on retirement plans, including 401(k) plans, pension plans and government correction programs for fixing plan operational err...
I am committed to helping the little guy stand up to BIG insurance companies and government agencies. I was first drawn into the fight for long-term disability benefits when I had to fight for a relative’s disability benefits. My cousin was “on disability” but the disability insurance company “determined” she was able to work even though the disability insurance company never examined my relative. The long-term disability insurer made its determination although m...
Paul Braden has practiced employee benefit and ERISA law for over 30 years representing management of large and small companies, including professional groups. His practice encompasses advising management concerning pension and profit sharing, 401(k) and ESOP plans as well as health and welfare, cafeteria, flexible benefit and nonqualified deferred compensation plans. Mr. Braden has extensive experience drafting entire plans and plan amendments, preparing and submitting plans for determinatio...
Bob Brant has an uncanny ability to do five things at once, and all of them proficiently. He was multitasking before the term even existed. He may be entering a timesheet while he dissects a tax problem and actively participates in a meeting. Just when you think there is no possible way he could be listening and doing so much simultaneously, out will pop a sentence that gets right to the heart of the matter. Those who have not been initiated will often sit back in stunned silence, even awe. B...
Tim Brechtel is a partner in the Tax Practice Group. He counsels employers on tax and ERISA compliance issues relating to employee retirement, health, welfare, compensation, and other plans. Tim advises clients ranging from sole proprietorships to large, multinational corporations on establishing, administering, merging, and terminating qualified defined-contribution and defined-benefit retirement plans — such as 401(k) plans and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) — and nonqua...
Jon W. Breyfogle (Principal) – Jon joined Groom Law Group in 1992 and served as the firm's Executive Principal (managing partner) from 2006 to 2011. He currently co-chairs Groom's Health & Welfare practice group. His practice includes counseling plan sponsors, financial institutions, and health insurers on compliance with ERISA's fiduciary rules, the Affordable Care Act, and other federal and state laws regulating health and welfare plans. Jon regularly advises individual employers,...
Angie Brick is a shareholder in the firm's Tax, Estate Planning, and Employee Benefits Department and practices primarily in employee benefits and ERISA. Her practice is concentrated in the areas of retirement plans, both qualified plans and nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements and health and welfare benefit plans. Her practice experience in these areas extends to consulting, plan design, plan drafting, implementation, qualification, and administration compliance, and includes expe...
Accomplished ERISA and employment law attorney with more than four decades of experience. Thought leader in employee benefits law. Recognized for years as a leading lawyer in Nevada. Andy Brignone has worked for over 40 years in employee benefits law, ERISA, labor law and employment law. Andy is sought after for his insights on employee benefits and has authored or co-authored several articles, including “Recent Developments in Employee Benefits Law” and “Where Family Law At...
Ms. Broxterman was admitted to practice in the State of Georgia in 1997. She practices exclusively in the area of employee benefits law. She represents clients in the areas of qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, health and welfare plans, ERISA compliance, COBRA administration, compliance with the privacy rule under HIPAA, and other federal laws relating to employee benefits matters. Ms. Broxterman has published articles on various employee benefits topics, including the funding of s...
James C. Bruinsma is a member of the firm and has been practicing law since 1976. His practice is focused on representing employers with regard to employee benefits and executive compensation. Employee Benefits Mr. Bruinsma works with businesses in establishing employee benefit plans of all types. The types of plans include: 401(k) plans, defined benefit pension plans, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), Section 403(b) tax-sheltered annuity plans, Section 457 deferred compensation plans, ...
Bill's law practice focuses on a wide variety of tax, corporate and business matters, including deferred compensation, equity based incentive plans and the purchase and sale of owner-managed businesses - with an emphasis on developing exit strategies for the family or closely-held business owner. He also counsels clients on various federal, state and local tax issues. Thriving on creative solutions to complex issues, and believing that “if you are through changing, you are through&rdquo...
With more than 20 years of experience as a trial attorney, Russell Buhite focuses his practice on life, health and disability insurance coverage litigation, as well as myriad ERISA matters. He is also experienced in defending employers in employment law matters before the EEOC and in state and federal courts. Russell also represents a wide range of professionals including agents, brokers, attorneys, appraisers, engineers and others in all manner of alleged malpractice and errors and omissions...
Thirty years of experience in high stakes litigation. Proven track record of successes in and out of the courtroom. Crafts litigation strategies to support business goals. When the stakes are high and the litigation is complex, companies turn to Eric. He is respected for both his willingness to address issues aggressively and his success in the courtroom. For more than three decades, Eric has represented high-profile clients in the healthcare, financial services, real estate and other highly ...
Mia Butzbaugh is the team leader of Miller Nash Graham & Dunn's employee benefits group. She has more than ten years of experience in the benefits field and works closely with collectively bargained multiemployer trusts, as well as public and private employers, on a variety of issues related to qualified deferred compensation and health and welfare plans. Mia counsels clients about all aspects of ERISA and Internal Revenue Code compliance including fiduciary duties, prohibited transaction...
Patricia S. Cain advises employers on a broad range of employee benefit matters, including counseling employers on the design, implementation and administration of broad-based pension and health care plans and executive compensation arrangements. She represents employers in ruling requests and controversies before the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. She also represents employers and benefit plans in disputes arising under benefit plans, ...
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law Definition
Single-employer, multi-employer, and collectively bargained pension plans provide benefits to plan participants and beneficiaries through various arrangements, including pension, profit sharing, annuity, 401(k), and employee stock ownership plans, as well as through various group life insurance, medical, hospitalization, dental, severance, and other health and welfare benefit plans.
Employee benefits law encompasses a wide spectrum of matters, including planning, drafting, and updating qualified and nonqualified retirement plan documents, and assisting clients with ongoing compliance matters relating to new statutes and regulations. It also requires working with government agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, in connection with voluntary corrections, closing agreements, audits, and investigations.
Employee benefits law practitioners are called upon to identify special issues and potential problems in corporate and partnership reorganizations, mergers, acquisitions, and securities transactions. Lawyers work closely with public and private investment funds to counsel on fiduciary duties, prohibited transactions, and various tax issues related to plan asset investments.
Executive compensation matters are an important component of employee benefits law and involve advising clients on the tax and accounting concerns surrounding equity-based compensation, bonus arrangements, supplemental retirement and deferred compensation plans, executive employment and severance arrangements, and securities law compliance.
Employee benefits lawyers assist in ERISA litigation disputes to prosecute and defend a wide variety of fiduciary duty claims on behalf of employee benefit plans, plan trustees and plan service providers, including claims arising from significant plan investment losses, claims challenging plan amendments or terminations, and claims challenging plan restrictions on particular types of coverage.
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.
In Brief
Georgia Laws Taking Effect in 2022
Three new pieces of Georgia legislation aim to improve medical bill transparency, lower the sales tax on vehicles and enact further safeguards to protect children in foster care.
On Neutral Ground
Years after the American Bar Association resolution on diversifying the pool of neutrals, alternative dispute resolution panels still fall short.
Largest Pain and Suffering Award Affirmed in New York History
Preeminent trial lawyer Benedict Morelli on achieving a precedent shifting result.
New England States With Incoming Legislation
Best Lawyers takes an in depth look at newly proposed bills, litigation and cases coming out of four New England states.