John R. Hickman

John R. Hickman


Alston & Bird LLP

Recognized since 2001

Atlanta, Georgia

Practice Areas

Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law

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John Hickman is head of the firm’s Health Benefits Practice, where he leads several attorneys devoted exclusively to health care reform issues under the Affordable Care Act, HIPAA privacy, health savings accounts (HSAs) and consumer-directed health care, flexible benefit plans and related health benefit issues. Mr. Hickman has worked closely with health plans, financial institutions and employers, as well as the IRS, Treasury and DOL, in addressing health benefit issues.

Mr. Hickman has been inducted into the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White) and Who's Who Legal. The Best Lawyers in America named him a 2016 "Lawyer of the Year" in the area of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Mr. Hickman has lectured widely and published articles on health care reform, ERISA and cafeteria plan issues. He is co-author of the following health benefit treatises: Cafeteria Plans Manual, Health Care Reform, HIPAA Portability and Privacy and Consumer-Driven Health Care (published by Thomson/Reuters/EBIA). Mr. Hickman is head of the Technical Advisory Committee and is on the board of the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC). Mr. Hickman was also an adjunct professor of law at Emory University School of Law.

Location
  • One Atlantic Center
    1201 West Peachtree Street, Suite 4900
    Atlanta, GA 30309-3424
Education
  • Emory University, JD, graduated 1989
  • Florida Atlantic University, BA, graduated 1989
Bar Admissions
  • Georgia, State Bar of Georgia
Affiliations
  • American College of Employee Benefits Counsel - Fellow

Alston & Bird LLP
Atlanta, Georgia

244 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

152 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

Best Law Firms Badge Visit Website View Firm Profile

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Atlanta (2025)
  • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Atlanta (2016)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Special Focus:
  • COVID-19

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Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Advisory


by John Hickman & Ashley Gillihan

Navigating the Winding Highway of Wellness Program Compliance: A GPS for the EEOC’s Wellness Program Rules

Employee Benefits

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