Groom Law Group, Chartered > Washington DC, United States > Firm Profile

Groom Law Group, Chartered Offices

Groom Law Group, Chartered
1701 PENNSYLVANIA AVE, NW
WASHINGTON DC 20006
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
United States
Visit website 202 857 0620 202 659 4503

Groom Law Group, Chartered > The Legal 500 Rankings

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design Tier 1

Washington DC-based boutique firm Groom Law Group, Chartered’s experienced team handles the provision of the full spectrum of benefits, health and retirement matters, advising a range of plan sponsors on plan design, compliance and addressing new legal developments, alongside providing counsel to a number of financial institutions that provide products and services in the benefits area. Standout partner David Levine advises an array of clients on employee benefits matters, including both retirement and executive compensation to health and welfare plan matters, while Jon Breyfogle is experienced in fiduciary and health matters. Jennifer Eller advises large corporate and public plan sponsors on all aspects of ERISA fiduciary compliance, and Brigen Winters counsels a range of clients on a variety of matters, with a notable legislative focus. Michael Kreps has expertise in benefit plan recordkeeping and the development of financial and insurance products. Daniel Hogans advises clients on a wide range of employee benefits and executive compensation matters, with Christine Keller focusing on the administration of welfare benefit plans, cafeteria plans, health savings accounts, and other employee benefit arrangements. Bolstering the team is Mark Lofgren, who specializes in the handling of tax-qualified and nonqualified retirement plan arrangements.

Practice head(s):

David Levine; Allison Itami; Jon Breyfogle; Lisa Campbell; Lars Golumbic; William Delany; Brigen Winters; Jennifer Eller; Michael Kreps

Other key lawyers:

Mark Lofgren

Key clients

Committee on Investment of Employee Benefit Assets

American Benefits Council

National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators, Inc.

Defined Contribution Alternatives Association

National Association of Professional Employer Organizations

Retirement Clearinghouse (RCH)

Tax-Exempt Structuring for Tax-Free Royalties

Design Complex LTIP Programs for Large Financial Institutions

Alternative Investments in Nonqualified Plans

Change in Nonqualified Plan Investment Structure and Risk Hedging

Coverage for Abortion Services

The Consolidated Appropriations Act and Mental Health Parity

New York State Common Retirement Fund

Smart USA Co.

Labor and employment > ERISA litigation Tier 2

Groom Law Group, Chartered focuses its attention on the defense of ERISA class actions, including those relating to breach of fiduciary duties, 401(k) excessive fee and investment strategy, employer stock, defined pension plans, actuarial equivalence. The practice is led by Lars Golumbic and William Delany: Golombic is well-regarded for his involvement in class actions involving plan sponsors and fiduciaries and service providers as well as DOL investigations and enforcement matters, while Delany shares this focus along with Michael Prame, advising on ERISA class actions regarding plan administration, stock drops and fiduciary duties. Mark Nielsen has represented insurance companies and health plan sponsors in cases relating to fiduciary duties and defective COBRA notices and Sarah Adams concentrates on class actions and government investigations, litigating on behalf of plan sponsors, fiduciaries facing allegations of ERISA violations, focusing on ESOPs, imprudent investment, actuarial malpractice and church plan putative class actions. Samuel Levin and Edward Meehan are also key contacts within the practice. All named lawyers are based in Washington DC.

Practice head(s):

Lars Golumbic; William Delany

Other key lawyers:

Sarah Adams; Michael Prame; Mark Nielsen; Sam Levin; Edward Meehan

Key clients

Amazon

American Airlines

CMFG Life Insurance Company

DISH Network Corporation

ForUsAll, Inc.

General Mills, Inc.

Labcorp of Americas Holdings

Laborers International Union of North America Local 91

Milliman, Inc.

Northeastern University

Voya Financial, Inc.

Wells Fargo

West Monroe Partners

Wintrust Financial Corporation

Yale New Haven Hospital

Aetna Life Insurance Company

Alerus Financial

American National Red Cross

Argent Trust Company

Ascensus, LLC

B. Braun Medical Inc.

Bankers Trust Company

Bert Bell / Pete Rozell NFL Players Retirement Plan

CommonSpirit Health

Costco Wholesale Corporation

Edelman Financial Engines

FCA US, LLC

Horizon Actuarial Services

Horizon Trust & Investment Management

Kinder Morgan, Inc.

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

McBride & Son Capital, Inc.

New York State Teamsters Pension Fund

Pentegra Retirement Services

Principal Financial Group

Prudent Fiduciary Services, LLC

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc.

Sequoia Benefits and Insurance Services LLC

Stout Risius Ross, LLC

Supplemental Benefit Committee of the Navistar International Transportation Corporation Retiree Supplemental Benefit Program

The Segal Company

Willis Towers Watson

Wilmington Trust, NA

Healthcare > Health insurers Tier 3

In the healthcare insurer space, Groom Law Group, Chartered stands out for its focus on providing expert regulatory advice, advising its clients on all aspects of federal and state regulations concerning healthcare delivery services and insurers. In particular, the firm regularly advises major health insurance companies on Medicare coverage rules, HIPAA privacy requirements, and insurer responsibilities under the Mental Health Parity Act. Additionally, 2022 has seen the firm advising employers, insurers, and health plan administrators on the full range of legal implications arising from federal and state law changes in the wake of the Dobbs decision. Jointly led by Jon Breyfogle and Lisa Campbell, who both have significant government experience, the team is based in Washington DC. They are supported by ACA specialists Seth Perretta and Ryan Temme, whose work focuses on the requirements of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, as well as ACA compliance.

Practice head(s):

Jon Breyfogle; Lisa Campbell

Other key lawyers:

Ryan Temme; Seth Peretta

Groom Law Group, Chartered > Firm Profile

Groom Law Group has been at the forefront of developments in the nation’s benefits, health, and retirement laws since Congress passed ERISA in 1974, drawing many of its attorneys from the federal agencies that regulate employee benefits and forging strong ties with key players in all three branches of government.

With more than 80 attorneys dedicated to the employee benefits practice, Groom offers clients unparalleled coverage of issues and disputes arising from ERISA, the Tax Code, securities laws, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, ADEA, and the many other laws that govern employee benefits. Working collaboratively across practice groups, Groom’s attorneys build upon their diverse backgrounds to share a common understanding of benefits, health, and retirement law that enables them to integrate their efforts across areas of specialization to produce the best results for their clients. The firm prides itself on offering state-of-the-art advice on best practices and emerging trends in employee benefits to a diverse group of clients across the country. Groom emphasizes a team approach to clients that assures responsive and efficient service.

Main areas of practice
Employers: Groom offers practical experience and thoughtful advice for employers of all sizes across a diverse range of industries to assist with workplace and personnel issues, benefit design, plan funding and restructuring, executive compensation arrangements, litigation, advocacy, and more.

  • Retirement plans: Groom’s expertise includes a broad range of retirement and pension plans, such as 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, defined benefit and cash balance plans, IRAs, and ESOPs.
  • Executive compensation: We assist clients with the design, funding, and administration of plans that are advantageous to executives and comply with government regulation.
  • Fiduciary and plan governance: Our attorneys helped shape most major administrative initiatives related to ERISA fiduciary responsibility provisions—plan governance is our second nature.
  • Health and welfare benefits: Groom attorneys provide expert advice on benefits financing, contract negotiations, fiduciary issues, plan design and drafting, fringe benefits, and more.

Health services: In an evolving landscape, Groom attorneys provide sound counsel across an array of health and welfare matters, including advocacy and litigation, to expertly guide managed care organizations, insurance companies, trade associations, specialized health service companies, and others.

  • Federal insurance regulation: Groom advises the largest insurance companies, managed care organizations, and health care service providers on federal programs and insurance regulation.
  • State insurance regulation: Groom is uniquely positioned to help our clients understand state insurance law issues, especially given the growing body of overlapping federal laws.
  • Privacy and security: Groom helps health plans, insurers, and service providers navigate privacy and security rules, including electronic recordkeeping, disclosures, and data sharing.
  • ERISA: Our attorneys’ deep knowledge of ERISA allows us to provide best-in-class counsel on the myriad of ERISA matters that can arise when designing and administering health related products and services.

Retirement services: Groom attorneys are widely recognized for their forward-thinking work in representing retirement plan sponsors and financial institutions, as well as complex litigation matters involving plan service providers, rabbi trusts and other executive compensation arrangements.

  • Financial institutions and advisers: We assist financial institutions and advisers with regard to the design and delivery of products and services in the retirement plan marketplace.
  • Investment of plan assets: Groom attorneys combine the right tools, resources, and comprehensive experience to tactfully advise clients on their most important plan investment projects.
  • Plan services and providers: Plan service providers rely on Groom for assistance with issues arising under ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, and other applicable state and federal laws.
  • IRAs/HSAs: Our decades-long focus on health and retirement plans uniquely positions us to assist our clients in the development, marketing, and management of IRAs and HSAs.

Litigation: From complex class actions to federal agency investigations, Groom’s nationally recognized litigators use skill, toughness, and creativity to win successful outcomes for clients.

  • Plan sponsor litigation: Our litigation team applies skill and creativity to shape processes and generate positive outcomes for employers in their plan sponsor and fiduciary capacities.
  • Health services litigation: Groom’s litigation attorneys leverage the firm’s specialized focus on health care services to provide unparalleled litigation defense services to clients.
  • Retirement services litigation: Groom litigators have a proven track record of representing retirement service providers in complicated, “bet the company” litigation.

Policy: Groom’s policy professionals are able to achieve positive outcomes for clients by leveraging substantive expertise and extensive relationships in Washington, DC.

  • Employer advocacy: Groom brings its specialized expertise, practical advice, and focused counsel to employers of all sizes and industries.
  • Health services advocacy: We work extensively on behalf of our clients to help shape healthcare policy at the state and federal level.
  • Retirement services advocacy: Drawing on our substantive experience and leveraging our inside-the-Beltway connections, Groom advances retirement policy for employers and service providers.

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Executive compensation Jeff Kroh
Fiduciary responsibility Jennifer Eller
Fiduciary responsibility Stephen Saxon
Governmental plans Ian Lanoff
Governmental plans David Powell
Health and welfare Jon Breyfogle
Health and welfare Seth Perretta
Litigation Lars Golumbic
Multi-employer/Taft-Hartley plans James Cole
Plan design and taxation Lou Mazawey
Plan design and taxation Mark Lofgren
Plan funding and restructuring Lars Golumbic
Plan funding and restructuring Michael Prame
Policy and legislation Brigen Winters

Staff Figures

Number of Partners : 42
Number of Other Fee-Earners : 42

Other

Managing Partner : Michael J Prame
Chairman : Jon W Breyfogle