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

Groom Law Group, Chartered, which is based in Washington DC, is one of the few boutique firms which specializes in employee benefits, health, and retirement law. The firm engages in a wide range of matters, including high-level policy work; the employers and sponsors practice group is co-chaired by David Levine and Malcolm Slee. Among a wide variety of matters, Levine regularly engages in enhancing alternative investment access in 401(k) plans, while Slee specializes in advising clients on issues concerning ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, and related laws surrounding qualified retirement and welfare plans. Jon Breyfogle is a key name in the team, alongside Lisa Campbell, a co-chair of the health services practice. Breyfogle has notable experience of testifying before Congress and at DOL hearings on retirement and health issues. Meanwhile, Campbell represents numerous pharmacy benefit managers and their employers or plan clients in complying with regulatory requirements. Bolstering the team, Mark Lofgren often represents clients in designing both tax-qualified and unqualified plans. All individuals are based in Washington DC.

Practice head(s):

David Levine; Malcolm Slee; Seth Peretta; Lisa Campbell

Other key lawyers:

Mark Lofgren; Jon Breyfogle

Key clients

Retirement Clearinghouse (RCH)

October Three Consulting

Portability Services Network – Spencer Williams

Design Complex LTIP and Retention Programs for Large Foreign and Domestic Financial Institutions

Private Equity and Hedge Fund Investment Options under a Nonqualified Plan

Major Public Spin-Off of Employee Benefit and Executive Compensation Plans

NIL Licensing and Receipt of UBIT-Free Royalties

Pension Risk Transfer Transactions and Review of Interpretive Bulletin 95-1

Enhancing Alternative Investment Access in 401(k) Plans

SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 Lobbying and Implementation

Private Equity Acquisition of Large Publicly Traded Industrial Company

PBMs and PBM Employer/Plan Sponsor Clients

DOL investigations

Excess Retiree Medical Assets

MHPAEA Coalition and Litigation

Benefit Programs for Professional Employer Organizations, Multiple Employer Groups, and Other Alternative Employment Arrangements

Sequoia Benefits and Insurance Services, LLC and Gregory S. Golub

Labor and employment > ERISA litigation Tier 2

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.

Practice head(s):

Lars Golumbic; William Delany

Other key lawyers:

Michael Prame; Sean Abouchedid; Sarah Adams; Edward Meehan; Mark Nielsen; Samuel Levin; Andrew Salek-Raham

Key clients

Astara Capital Partners

Carpenters of Western Washington Board of Trustees

FM Global

Howard University

Intuit, Inc.

Nebraska Methodist Health System

New York City Employees’ Retirement System

Sheet Metal Workers of Northern California Pension Plan

Zander Insurance

Aetna Life Insurance Company

Alerus Financial

Amazon

American Airlines (PSA Airlines)

American National Red Cross

Argent Trust Company

Ascensus, LLC

B. Braun Medical Inc.

Bert Bell / Pete Rozell NFL Players Retirement Plan

CMFG Life Insurance Company (CUNA Mutual)

CommonSpirit Health

DISH Network Corporation

Edelman Financial Engines

FCA US, LLC

ForUsAll, Inc.

General Mills, Inc.

Horizon Actuarial Services

Horizon Trust & Investment Management

Kinder Morgan, Inc.

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

Labcorp of Americas Holdings

Milliman, Inc.

Northeastern University

Pentegra Retirement Services

Principal Financial Group

Healthcare > Health insurers Tier 3

Seth Peretta and Lisa Campbell jointly lead the Washington DC-based group at Groom Law Group, Chartered, which acts for a diverse client list of employers, sponsors of health and welfare plans, and managed care organizations. Campbell is an expert in all matters ACA related, with an emphasis on qualified health plan standards and insurance market reforms, while Jon Breyfogle is particularly knowledgeable on ERISA fiduciary rules, advising a number of health insurers and trade associations on health matters. Ryan Temme often advises health plan sponsors and insurers on compliance with both federal and state regulations regarding the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Acts. Seth Peretta is known for his deep knowledge of employee benefits issues, including health reimbursement arrangements, and Xavier Baker routinely assists clients with disputes concerning non-discrimination requirements under the ACA.

Practice head(s):

Seth Peretta; Lisa Campbell

Other key lawyers:

Ryan Temme; Seth Peretta; Xavier Baker; Kathryn Bjornstad Amin; Jon Breyfogle

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 90 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
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
Plan design and taxation Malcolm Slee
Plan design and taxation David Levine
Health and welfare Lisa Campbell

Staff Figures

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

Other

Managing Partner : Christine Keller
Chairman : Jon W Breyfogle