Best Lawyers in America for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
State
Sue Odom is a tax attorney who focuses her practice on the area of ERISA, employee benefits, and executive compensation. Sue has worked extensively with all types of employer-sponsored retirement and welfare benefit plans, including pension, profit sharing, 401(k), 403(b), and 457(b) plans, ESOPs , and health, accident, disability, Section 125, flexible spending, and other welfare plans. Her clients include large and small for-profit companies across all industry sectors, non-profit corporati...
Jeff Smith is a partner in the Cleveland office and a member of the firm's Employee Benefits Practice Group. He works with clients to create, implement and maintain their retirement and health plans. He also advises employers on the impact of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as well as Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements (MEWAs) and Voluntary Employer Beneficiary Associations (VEBAs). While in la...
Kimberly Wethly advises clients on the full range of executive compensation and employment‑related matters, with a particular focus on the design, implementation and administration of equity awards and other equity‑based compensation programs, including complex structures for both private and public companies. Clients note that she “is among the best executive compensation lawyers in the United States, demonstrating both deep expertise and pragmatism.”
Amanda Stout is an attorney with Kean Miller in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she represents employers and businesses in labor and employment law , commercial litigation , and related regulatory matters. Her practice includes both trial and appellate work, with a focus on helping clients navigate complex disputes efficiently and in compliance with applicable law. Amanda’s labor and employment practice involves defending local government entities and private employers against claims alle...
David concentrates his practice in employee benefits and executive compensation. With respect to benefits, David is experienced in the design, implementation and administration of welfare and fringe benefit arrangements and qualified retirement plans (including 401(k) plans and ESOPs) for large and small employers, retirement distribution planning for individuals and the design and implementation of nonqualified deferred compensation and equity compensation arrangements for public and private...
Ms. Smithey devotes her practice to all aspects of employee benefits law. She represents clients with respect to qualified retirement plans and health and welfare plans, assisting them with a variety of plan design, compliance, and administration issues for all types of pension, health and welfare benefit plans.Ms. Smithey advises her clients as to ERISA, MPPAA, HIPAA, COBRA, PPACA, the Internal Revenue Code, as well as other federal and state laws applicable to employee benefit plans and pla...
Diane M. Soubly is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Employment Law - Management and Litigation - ERISA. Diane M. practices law in Birmingham, Michigan Best Lawyers has recognized Diane M. Soubly since 2006. 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 Diane M. Soubly is held by other lawyers.
John Shannon's comprehensive knowledge of executive compensation enables him to provide efficient and practical solutions to complex tax, securities, and corporate governance issues. John counsels public and private companies on employment and severance agreements, stock plans, and deferred compensation arrangements, and has extensive experience with compensation issues in M&A and corporate transactions. He regularly advises on equity-based and other incentive arrangements, nonqualified d...
Erin Riley knows that strong relationships are the key to complex cases.As a partner in Keller Rohrback’s Complex Litigation Group, Erin has allowed these collaborative and long-lasting relationships to inform her work for over 20 years. Since 2001, Erin’s practice has focused on representing employees and retirees in Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) actions involving defined contribution, defined benefit, and health benefit plans. Erin has worked on n...
Ken Hoogstra maintains an extensive employee benefits practice, advising clients on such matters as ERISA compliance for group health, welfare and pension plans, and the design and administration of qualified retirement plans and nonqualified deferred compensation plans. Ken places a particular focus on the implementation, design and administration of employee stock ownership plans (“ESOPs”). He also has significant experience working on executive compensation arrangements, includ...
James O. Fleckner is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Litigation - ERISA. James O. practices law in Boston, Massachusetts Best Lawyers has recognized James O. Fleckner 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 James O. Fleckner is held by other lawyers.
Serving as co-chair of the firm’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice, Joe 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. Clients describe him as “efficient and easy to work with,” "an incredibly skilled employee benefits attorney," and “able to help with judgment calls on am...
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...
Ruddy Ramelli is a partner in the Tax Practice Group. Ruddy has been practicing tax law for more than 30 years and is a board-certified tax specialist as certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. He focuses his practice on federal and state income tax issues and the tax structuring and consequences of mergers, acquisitions, and related transactions. Ruddy regularly represents corporations, partnerships, individuals, and other for-profit entities, and has in-depth experience in...
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.
