Best Lawyers in America for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
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State
Christopher S. Simmons is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Public Finance Law, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Christopher S., who practices law in Montgomery, Alabama, has been recognized since 2001. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Karleen Green has a blended labor and employment practice which concentrates on employee benefits and employment matters for both public and private employers, including compliance with federal and state employment laws as well as ERISA, HIPAA, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and COBRA. She represents clients in various industries, including construction, health care, public utilities, package and freight delivery, financial services, fueling, gaming, industrial equipment, insu...
Mark L. Stember is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Litigation - ERISA. Mark L., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mark L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Don H. Goode is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Don H., who practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Don H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Melissa Kurzhals is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Employment Law - Management and Tax Law. Melissa, who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Melissa is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Dana Thrasher specializes in ERISA, regularly advising employers, trustees and service providers concerning qualified retirement plans, non-qualified plans, fringe benefits, welfare benefits and executive compensation issues. She has developed significant expertise in the ERISA/employee benefits practice area, representing a large and diverse client base. She regularly advises clients regarding planning and evaluating benefit programs, establishing and administering employee benefit plans, mo...
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...
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...
Brian Casey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation - ERISA and Litigation - Securities. Brian, who practices law in South Bend, Indiana, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brian is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
J. René Toadvine maintains a nationwide practice that focuses on representing management in all facets of employee benefits matters, including: Employee benefits tax issues The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and benefits planning Executive compensation Employee benefits in mergers and acquisitions Bank finance and ERISA issues in securitizations René designs and drafts all types of employee benefits and executive compensation plans with adherence to compliance r...
Jeffrey J. Bakker provides strategic counsel to clients nationwide concerning every executive compensation and employee benefit matter that affects their businesses, including designing and preparing deferred compensation and equity compensation plans, maintaining ERISA and tax compliance for all qualified and nonqualified retirement plans (defined contribution, defined benefit and cash balance plans) and representing clients in Department of Labor benefits plan audits. Jeff regularly advises...
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.