Christopher Rillo > Baker Botts L.L.P. > San Francisco, United States > Lawyer Profile

Baker Botts L.L.P.
101 CALIFORNIA STREET, SUITE 3070
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94111
CALIFORNIA
United States

Work Department

Litigation

Position

Partner

Practice Group Chair – ERISA Litigation (Firmwide)

Career

Christopher J. Rillo has more than 30 years of experience as a litigator, focusing on ERISA litigation and class action defense. His experience encompasses almost all areas of benefits litigation practice, including benefit issues involving ESOPs, plan fee litigation, retiree health litigation and other defined benefit plan litigation.

Mr. Rillo began as a labor and employment lawyer and transitioned to focus on ERISA litigation as that practice area evolved. He has represented clients in several 401(k) fee class actions, including claims involving the country’s largest defined contribution plan. His experience also includes class actions involving company stock and conversion of defined benefits plans to cash balance arrangements, as well as related tax litigation involving plan disputes, financial services litigation and securities claims.

Memberships

State Bar of California

District of Columbia Bar

American Benefits Council, Board Member, 2009-present

Order of Malta

St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church, Finance Committee

St. Mary’s Hospital, Volunteer

Education

J.D., Rutgers Law School 1980
Editor, Rutgers Technology Journal

B.A., History, Rutgers University 1977
with distinction

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Labor and employment > ERISA litigation

Baker Botts L.L.P. offers a broad practice, acting in matters including fiduciary duty breach allegations, plan administration and management claims, and medical provider claims against employer plans. The firm has a focus on the energy and natural gas sector with clients such as ExxonMobil, Halliburton, Patterson-UTI Energy and Transocean. Practice head Travis Sales, based in Houston, recently represented the Houston Firefighters Relief and Retirement Fund, the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association and the Houston Municipal Employees Pension System in ERISA pension plan litigation against the City of Houston. In Dallas, senior counsel Earl Austin has a focus on life science and health care industries, assisting with the firm’s recent work for Aetna Life Insurance Company regarding brand-name medication and health benefits coverage. Christopher Rillo, based in San Francisco, is another key name to note for his experience in ERISA litigation, including ESOPs, plan fees and defined benefit plan litigation.