Public and private companies from a range of industries across healthcare, insurance, financial services, manufacturing, and technology trust Sidley Austin LLP‘s Chicago-based ERISA litigation practice for class actions related to 401(k) and health plans. Practice head Brian Kavanaugh has considerable experience counselling clients on cases related to insured and self-funded health plans. Caroline Wong continues to excel in ERISA cases, assisting with the full spectrum of matters, including excessive fee class actions related to retirement plans. Eric Mattson retired in 2025, while Brienne Letourneau joined the team from White & Case LLP in February 2025.
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Key clients
- CapFinancial Partners, LLC (d/b/a CAPTRUST Financial Advisors)
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
- R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company
- Cintas Corporation
- Pfizer
- Ardent Health Partners, LLC
- Magna International
- American Council of Life Insurers
- Reliance Trust
- Sun Country Airlines
Work highlights
Defending a first-of-its-kind ERISA class action relating to the pharmacy benefits program of the Johnson & Johnson (“J&J”) health plan.
Represented CapFinancial Partners, LLC (“Captrust”) in a successful appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, cementing the client's win in a class action involving two retirement plans offered by Cornell University.
Defending Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) as alleged third-party administrator in several lawsuits in the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas brought by dozens of physician groups and freestanding emergency facilities throughout Texas.
Practice head
Brian Kavanaugh
Other key lawyers
Caroline Wong; Brienne Letourneau