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 is noted for its experience and capability across the full spectrum of employee benefits, executive compensation, health and retirement-related matters, assisting a range of plan sponsors, as well as financial institutions. Standout partner David Levine focuses on the redesign of retirement and executive plans, while Jon Breyfogle is recognized for his expertise in health and welfare mandates. Elsewhere, Jennifer Eller advises corporate and public plan sponsors on all aspects of ERISA fiduciary compliance, and Brigen Winters specializes in legislative policy issues, while Michael Kreps advises both private and public sector clients on retirement and health matters. Mark Lofgren handles tax-qualified retirement plan arrangements, while Christine Keller, advises employers, insurers, and service providers on health and welfare plan design and administration mandates. Tax specialist Louis Mazawey, Allison Ullman and Lisa Campbell are also key members of the team.

Practice head(s):

David Levine; Allison Ullman; Jon Breyfogle; Lisa Campbell; Brigen Winters; Michael Kreps; Jennifer Eller

Other key lawyers:

Mark Lofgren; Christine Keller; Louis Mazawey

Key clients

Central States Pension Fund

Seattle Times

March of Dimes

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

Aetna Life Insurance Company

Principal Financial Group

Stout Risius Ross

Labor and employment > ERISA litigation Tier 2

Groom Law Group, Chartered's work ranges from claims disputes and federal agency investigations to complex class action and multi-district litigation involving plan sponsors. Its Washington DC-based team is led by Lars Golumbic, who has notable experience in class actions, defending clients in Department of Labor investigations and enforcement matters. Michael Prame focuses on benefit plan fiduciaries, as well as other service providers and plan sponsors, and Mark Nielsen defends plan trustees and sponsors in federal court against claims surrounding prohibited transactions; in particular, he has successfully defended employers against claims arising under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Sarah Adams acted as lead partner on a successful eight-year case, representing the Supplemental Benefit Committee of the Navistar International Transport Corp.

Practice head(s):

Lars Golumbic

Other key lawyers:

Michael Prame; Mark Nielsen; Sarah Adams

Key clients

American National Red Cross

B. Braun Medical Inc.

Costco Wholesale Corporation

FCA US, LLC

Kinder Morgan, Inc.

Northern Trust Company

Pentegra Retirement Services

Prudent Fiduciary Services, LLC

Royal Caribbean Cruises

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc.

Sequoia Benefits and Insurance Services LLC

Aetna Life Insurance Co.

Alerus Financial

Argent Trust Company

Ascensus, LLC

Bankers Trust Company

Bert Bell / Pete Rozell NFL Players Retirement Plan

CommonSpirit Health

Edelman Financial Engines

Horizon Trust & Investment Management

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

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

McBride & Son Capital, Inc.

Principal Financial Group

Saint Luke’s Health System, Inc.

The Segal Company

Stout Risius Ross, LLC

Supplemental Benefit Committee of the Navistar International Transportation Corp. Retiree Supplemental Benefit Program

Wilmington Trust, NA

Industry focus > Healthcare: health insurers Tier 3

The Washington DC-based healthcare team at Groom Law Group, Chartered prioritizes expert regulatory advice, covering Medicare coverage rules, HIPAA privacy requirements, and insurer responsibilities under the Mental Health Parity act. The team has been heavily involved in telehealth-related work, advising a number of health plan sponsors on adding telehealth aspects to their offerings. It also offers transactional support, advice on federal investigations and anti-kickback cases, as well as growing advice related to the federal No Surprises Act. Jon Breyfogle and Lisa Campbell co-lead the team, both bringing with them prior leadership experience in federal bodies. Ryan Temme is also recommended for his work on government audits on requirements of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity acts.

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

DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
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