Best Lawyers in America for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
State
Charles A. Storke is a San Francisco, California attorney with more than 40 years of experience advising clients in Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law . At Trucker Huss APC , he represents regional, statewide, and local multiemployer pension and health and welfare plans, including the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust Fund, one of the largest Taft-Hartley trusts in the United States. Mr. Storke counsels trustees and plan sponsors on a broad range of employee benefits and ERISA matters ...
Stephanie Jeane is an executive compensation partner in the Houston office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Stephanie’s practice focuses on executive compensation and benefits matters in connection with mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs and divestitures and public offerings. Stephanie also advises clients on a wide range of compensation and associated tax, securities and corporate governance matters, including the design, disclosure and implementation of equity and cash incentive programs...
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...
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...
Matthew C. Reeber is a Partner with Pannone Devereaux & O’Gara LLC and a member of the firm’s Litigation and Employment Law Teams. He is a highly skilled and experienced trial attorney and litigator, focusing his practice on defending clients in both state and federal courts. Attorney Reeber serves as counsel for a wide range of clients and has successfully handled matters ranging from major property losses to wrongful termination claims. He prides himself on bringing matters ...
Bob Schmidt joined Kean Miller in 2016 and is based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he focuses his practice on Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and related tax matters. He has represented employers for more than 40 years, advising organizations of all sizes on the design, implementation, and ongoing operation of pension plans and other employee benefit arrangements. Earlier in his career, Bob served as an attorney-adviser with the United States Tax Court in Washington, DC. His practice includes...
Joelle Tavan is an attorney with Trucker Huss APC in Portland, Oregon, where she focuses her practice on Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and qualified retirement plans . Her work includes advising clients on defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans, including 401(k), profit sharing, ESOP , and money purchase pension plans, as well as retirement plans maintained by tax-exempt organizations and public employers. Joelle counsels public and private employers on the design, administration, ...
Patricia L. Beaty is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Patricia L. practices law in Indianapolis, Indiana Best Lawyers has recognized Patricia L. Beaty since 2023. 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 Patricia L. Beaty is held by other lawyers.
Tiffany D. Downs is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Employment Law - Management. Tiffany D. practices law in Atlanta, Georgia Best Lawyers has recognized Tiffany D. Downs 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 Tiffany D. Downs is held by other lawyers.
Kirsten Stewart is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Kirsten practices law in Denver, Colorado Best Lawyers has recognized Kirsten Stewart since 2009. 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 Kirsten Stewart is held by other lawyers.
Maureen O'Brien is a partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Maureen's practice includes a broad range of employee benefits and executive compensation matters, and she has extensive experience with the M&A aspects of employee benefits and executive compensation, including strategic and private equity transactions. Maureen advises clients on the design and implementation of qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, welfare plans, Section 409A matters and equity and in...
Public and private sector business clients alike trust commercial litigator Bart Karwath to look out for their best interests and safeguard their position. Bart helps his clients solve serious problems by focusing on the merits of each case and seeking the best possible outcome. Bart concentrates his practice on utilities, condemnation, government, municipal, UCC/sales, contracts, construction, commercial lease, real estate, franchise, civil RICO and ERISA litigation matters. Valued for his c...
Stuart Harris counsels clients on a wide range of employee benefits issues, including the design and administration of qualified retirement plans, nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements, executive compensation programs, and health/welfare plans. Areas of particular expertise include 401(k) plans, ESOPs, and stock option plans, as well as group health and cafeteria plans. Stuart's work includes advice on the tax and ERISA implications (including COBRA rules) of all types of employee b...
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...
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.
