Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is well-versed in handling high-stakes and complex ERISA and benefits litigation before the Supreme Court and other appellate courts. With an impressive track-record of successful court trials, the group has enjoyed significant victories for clients such as Oshkosh Corp andBoeing in precedent-setting cases. Practice head Jeremy Blumenfeld co-leads from Philadelphia and New York with a practice encompassing the full gamut of ERISA activities from class action claims to severance-pay plans. Based in Chicago, practice head Deborah Davidson is sought after by clients for her experience in employee benefit plans and litigation whilst co-head Christopher Boran is known for his work defending employers and fiduciaries in ERISA class actions. Brian Ortelere specializes in defined contribution savings plan litigation.

Boasting a successful track record in trials, Goodwin defends financial services companies against a broad spectrum of alleged ERISA violations. With a well-balanced litigation and advisory offering, the firm brings deep sector expertise and bench experience, attracting new clients in industries such as steel and manufacturing, technology, media and publishing, with significant mandates in 2023 including representing financial services companies, Natixis and Mercer Investments, and advising the US Chamber of Commerce and leading trade associations. The practice is co-led by Boston-stationed James Fleckner, who represents a number of major companies in ERISA litigation, and seasoned litigator Alison Douglass, who also practices from the Boston office. In the Washington office, Jamie Santos focuses on complex civil litigation before federal appellate and trial courts, whilst Michael Isenman’s in-depth knowledge of securities, ERISA, class action makes him the go-to for mutual funds, other registered investment companies, and financial institutions. Dave Rosenberg operates from the Boston office, defending many of the largest financial institutions in ‘excessive fee’ ERISA litigation, whilst Washington DC-based Matthew Riffee advises financial institutions and service providers in DOL investigations and enforcements.

Groom Law Group, Chartered maintains its market-leading position, bolstered by a large team of specialists and offering particular expertise in ERISA class actions. The Washington DC-based group is notable for defending a number of major companies and has successfully diversified its client portfolio beyond the financial services sector to represent some of the country’s main health insurances. They also continue to advise on ESOP-related lawsuits, class action litigation relating to COBRA notices, and investigations involving the Affordable Care Act and Mental Health Parity Act. With a balanced litigation and advisory practice, Lars Golumbic co-chairs the litigation practice group alongside experienced litigator William Delany. Michael Prame combines his actuarial expertise and trial experience to advise clients on defined benefit plans and financial issues brought by the PBGC. Sean Abouchedid is notable for advising major retailers, television providers and healthcare systems, whereas Sarah Adams focuses on class actions, ESOP litigation and DOL investigations. Edward Meehan is an expert in complex commercial litigation, government investigations, and class actions. Mark Nielsen serves on the firm’s executive committee and works on the full gamut of litigation before state and federal courts. Samuel Levin and Andrew Salek-Raham are other key names in the firm.

With an impressive national footprint, Jackson Lewis P.C.has a successful record defending high-value ERISA class action lawsuits in multiple jurisdictions. Aside from defending substantive class action litigation, the team are well-placed to advise on retiree rights, severance plans, benefit plans, and ESOPs. The firm’s extensive client portfolio of employers, plan sponsors, plan administrators, fiduciaries has recently expanded their client base to include food services and energy-related companies. Standout work includes a claims dismissal for MGM which amounted to over 1.6bn assets under management, high exposure ESOP cases, and a precedent-setting case for Nova Southeastern University. The ERISA Litigation Group is co-led by industry veteran Howard Shapiro and René Thorne, who is highly active in the healthcare space. Stacey C.S. Cerrone is a core member of the team focusing on the defense of complex ERISA class actions along with seasoned litigator, Lindsey H. Chopin. New Jersey-based Michael E. Holzapfel has considerable expertise in benefits administration, single-plaintiff lawsuits, federal and state insurance, whereas Robert W. Rachal focuses on ERISA fiduciary, benefits, and executive compensation litigation. Managing principal Charles F. Seemann boasts longstanding experience defending ERISA plans and plan fiduciaries, while Phillip C. Thompson in Kansas specializes on defending employers from ERISA class actions. All members of the team are based in the New Orleans office unless otherwise stated.

 

 

Mayer Brown LLP  offers expertise and experience in high-stakes litigation. Bolstered by a specialized team, the group routinely works with plan sponsors administrators, fiduciaries and financial institutions, with recent highlights for the team include successfully defending Yale University in an ERISA class action suit at the US District Court for Connecticut, with zero damages awarded to the plaintiff. They have also acted on behalf of Cornell University, Cook Group Incorporated and Georgetown University. Industry veteran Nancy Ross leads the team from Chicago and is sought after by clients for her expertise in ERISA litigation and employee benefits class action litigation. In the Washington DC office, Reginald Goeke handles ERISA class actions, internal corporate investigations, and complex regulatory issues, whilst Brantley Webb represents leading technology companies, financial institutions and multinational corporations across the full spectrum of civil litigation. Alex Lakatos, also in the Washington DC office, is a specialist in class and derivative ERISA actions. Meanwhile, in Salt Lake City, Matthew Moscon focuses on retirement and welfare benefit matters.

Primarily New York-headquartered with a broad national scope, Proskauer Rose LLP boasts a full-service ERISA offering, spanning ERISA class and individual lawsuits, employee benefit claims, amicus briefs and DOL investigations. The team is led by the considerable expertise of Myron Rumeld, regarded by many as a leading figure in ERISA civil litigation, along with Russell Hirschhorn, who has represented several high value plan fiduciaries, trustees, sponsors and service providers from a wide range of sectors including technology, entertainment, and financial services. They are joined by Joseph Clark, also operating from New York, and specializing in claims relating to fiduciary responsibilities and withdrawal liabilities, and Tulio Chirinos, who offers a broad ERISA practice, including claims alleging underperformance and excessive fees, from her office in Boca Raton. New York-based, Neil Shah serves as the lead for Taft-Hartley plan clients in withdrawal liability and delinquent contributions matters.

Seyfarth Shaw LLP is distinguished for representing major insurers, healthcare providers and financial services companies, and is currently expanding into the East Coast. Working closely with employee benefits department, the team deals with complex ERISA cases often involving 401 (k) fees class actions, putative actions and employee benefits disputes. The team is co-led by Kathleen Cahill Slaught in San Francisco, a noted specialist in high stakes ERISA litigation with an impressive client portfolio. The other co-lead is Ian Morrison, who operates from the Chicago office, and represents employers, employee benefit plans and fiduciaries across the full spectrum of litigation. Also, in the Chicago office, Ada Dolph specializes in 401(k) fee, retiree medical and “stock drop” class action litigation alongside Sam Schwartz-Fenwick, who focuses on benefits-related litigation particularly as it relates to gender equity. In New York, Amanda Genovese, who joined the firm from Troutman Pepper as a partner in 2023, defends major companies involving ERISA benefit and fiduciary claims as well as advising clients on the Mental Health Parity Act and Medicaid programs.

 

Comprising a large specialist team, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is well-equipped to take on 401(k) class actions lawsuits, putative ERISA actions and ESOP matters. Other areas of expertise include reimbursement rights, recovery of pension overpayments, ERISA estoppel and ESOP valuations.  Craig Martin is a key name in the Chicago-based team, representing many of Chicago’s leading companies and notable families, appearing before courts and tribunals on a whole host of complex and technical litigation trials. Amanda Amert leads the team and brings a diverse portfolio pf business litigation, appellate and arbitration experience. Matthew Basil brings deep experience representing Fortune 500 companies on ERISA litigation, breach of fiduciary duty and internal investigations. Matthew Thomas specializes in high stakes litigation and arbitration, whilst LaRue Robinson brings significant trial experience as a former US Army prosecutor and focuses on class actions, employee benefits litigation and investigations. Laura Norris is another key name to note in the firm.

 

King & Spalding LLP offers expertise in ERISA class actions, director and executive compensation litigation and employee benefits litigation in Georgia and wider Southeast region. Working closely with its employee benefits, tax and healthcare teams, the group provides comprehensive advice to clients in California and other locations. Key strengths include 401(k) class actions, multiemployer withdrawal liability claims, health and welfare disputes and DOL investigations. In addition, the team are notable for defending AIG insured companies in class action litigation. The team is based in Atlanta and led by David Tetrick, who represents major clients such as Chevron, Home Dept on ERISA litigation, employee benefits disputes and internal investigations. He is supported by Darren Shuler, who focuses on complex class action litigation and is serving as lead trial counsel for Home Depot in their class action lawsuit along with experienced litigator Danielle Chattin.

Working across several sectors, McDermott Will & Emery LLP possess key strengths in ERISA litigation, ESOPs, and DOL investigations and IRS audits. The team recently defended Tharanco Group and Genentech in a class action lawsuits alleging violation of ERISA fiduciary allegations. With a balanced advisory and litigation practice, the group is experienced in advising boards, executives and HR departments on the resilience of their ERISA plan audits.  Chicago-based Ted Becker leads the firm, skilled in both ERISA litigation and government investigations and audits, with Christian Nemeth, who splits his time between Chicago and Miami representing major clients such as Google, HEICO and Target. Joshua Simon specializes in litigation relating to the healthcare industry.

Baker Botts L.L.P. offers broad expertise in ERISA litigation encompassing single-plaintiffs, multi-action plaintiffs, benefits and executive compensation and caters to clients from business, pension systems and fiduciaries. Another specific area of expertise in the energy industry, such as many international energy companies such as ExxonMobil Corporation and Halliburton turn to the group for ERISA litigation and advisory services. The team is led by experienced trial lawyer Tina Nguyen and Christopher Rillo, who focuses on ERISA litigation and class action defense. Matthew Sheridan and Sarah Reeves are other names of note.

With a broad-based ERISA litigation practice, Greenberg Traurig LLP provides additional advisory support to clients in the form of risk assessment, audit analysis, and preempting potential liabilities. A stellar client list includes ERISA fiduciaries and trustees, employer plan sponsors, plan administrators, and service providers. Well-versed in handling the full spectrum of ERISA, ESOP and employee benefits litigation, the group leverages the expertise of three practice heads. Jonathan L Sulds represents major employers from the New York office and co-chairs the ERISA & employee benefits litigation group whilst, Magan P Ray‘s far-reaching experience in ERISA and ESOP matters contributes to her advice on plan design and compliancy from the Silicon Valley office. Craig Waugh operates from Phoenix and leverages his employee benefits expertise. Michael Slocum has experience handling cutting-edge ERISA issues before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Stephanie Ahmad is another key figure in the team.

 

Holland & Knight draws upon its multifaceted experience to offer a full-service advisory and litigation practice in the ERISA space. A particular specialism of the firm is the vulnerability of insurance providers to serious fraud within the healthcare benefits arena with a dedicated team assisting clients to recuperate assets from fraudulent claims. The team are regularly engaged in complex litigation around both health and welfare benefit plans representing plan participants, fiduciaries, service providers and investment managers. ‘Skilled legal strategist’ Todd Wozniak leads the team from his Atlanta office, defending private companies and public institutions on ERISA litigation, ESOPs and wider labor and employment issues. Florida-based Lindsey Camp has considerable expertise defending class actions, ERISA breach of fiduciary duty actions, ESOPs amongst other significant matters.

 

 

With considerable expertise in withdrawal liability, benefits issues in bankruptcy and pension de-risking, Jones Day boasts a successful track record in landmark litigation. Significant victories relating to the City of Detroit’s health and retirement system and the General Motors pension plan demonstrate the firm’s ability to handle high-level and complex ERISA work. Washington DC-based Evan Miller acts for corporate plan sponsors, multiemployer plan contributions and ERISA fiduciaries with an additional specialism in the restructuring of pension and retiree health liabilities. Meanwhile, Miguel Eaton co-chairs the employee benefits & executive compensation practice focuses on 401(k) fee cases, employee benefits and DOL investigations. ‘Expert in his field’ Kevin Noble advises clients on employee benefit plans, pension de-risking, and retiree health settlements.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is noted for its capabilities in ERISA, pension and benefits-related litigation, with standout clients including DST Systems, Citigroup and Alaska Retirement Management Board. The team is led by Lewis R. Clayton, who serves as the of the ERISA, pension & benefits litigation group and represents a diverse client portfolio in high stakes litigation, with ERISA stock-drop another area of expertise. Jeffrey Recher, an experienced litigator utilizes his background in complex commercial litigation and corporate investigations.

Noted for representing single and multiemployer pension benefit plans, Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP boasts a wide spectrum of capabilities, from individual and class action lawsuits to withdrawal liability arbitrations and litigations. The group is highly active in advising clients on pension provisions under the American Rescue Plan Act, as well as representing clients before regulatory bodies such as the Department of Labor and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Mark Brossman and Ronald Richman leads the employment & employee benefits group from New York. Richman’s practice particularly focuses on employee benefits and restrictive covenant cases and has extensive experience in representing hedge and private equity funds.

 

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP advises clients from a diverse range of industries as well as representing them at trial and appellate courts on a broad spectrum of ERISA claims from class actions to 401(k) plan stock-drop cases. The team are particularly experienced in serving the ERISA needs of major financial institutions such as JP Morgan Chase and Morgan Stanley as well as global pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer. The practice is co-managed by Boston-based partners James Carroll, adept at defending clients in ERISA litigation and proprietary funds cases and Michael S. Hines, reputed for representing major mutual fund companies in class action lawsuits.