Find Lawyers in Birmingham, Alabama for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Practice Area Overview
Employee benefits law is a practice area for lawyers who counsel employers on different types of retirement and welfare benefit plans, with particular emphasis on benefits arrangements regulated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (commonly known as “ERISA”).
ERISA lawyers, sometimes referred to as employee benefits attorneys, can provide legal guidance and representation to employers, plan sponsors, plan administrators, trustees and other parties involved in employee benefit plans. They may help with the creation and administration of these plans, as well as compliance with ERISA regulations and other laws governing employee benefits.
Some specific tasks an ERISA lawyer might handle include drafting plan documents, advising on plan design and operation, handling claims and disputes, representing clients in court or before regulatory agencies and providing guidance on tax and other related issues.
Areas of Focus for an ERISA Attorney:
Depending on their particular interests and expertise, an ERISA attorney may focus on a variety of areas related to employee benefits and retirement plans. Some common areas of focus include:
Plan Design and Drafting
An ERISA attorney can assist in the design and drafting of employee benefit plans, including pension plans, 401(k) plans and health and welfare plans.
Plan Administration
ERISA attorneys can advise plan sponsors and administrators on their duties and obligations under ERISA, including compliance with reporting and disclosure requirements. ERISA lawyers can also provide guidance on strategies to minimize the risk of claims and disputes related to employee benefit plans.
Fiduciary Responsibilities
ERISA attorneys can provide guidance on fiduciary responsibilities and liability, including investment decisions, plan expenses and potential conflicts of interest. ERISA lawyers can also review investment decisions made by plan fiduciaries to ensure that they are in compliance with ERISA regulations and that they align with the goals and objectives of the plan.
Plan Audits and Investigations
ERISA attorneys may represent clients in plan audits or investigations conducted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the Department of Labor (DOL). An ERISA lawyer can help plan sponsors and administrators navigate the audit or investigation process, ensuring that they are in compliance with ERISA regulations and minimizing any potential liability or financial impact.
Claims and Disputes
ERISA attorneys can handle claims and disputes related to employee benefit plans, including disputes over benefit entitlement, breach of fiduciary duty and alleged violations of ERISA.
Benefits Litigation
ERISA attorneys can represent clients in litigation related to employee benefits and retirement plans, including claims for benefits, breach of fiduciary duty and other claims under ERISA.
Other Aspects of Work for ERISA Lawyers
As mentioned before, employee benefits law encompasses a wide spectrum of matters, including assisting clients with ongoing compliance matters relating to new statutes and regulations.
ERISA law also requires working with government agencies in connection with voluntary corrections, closing agreements, audits and investigations. This may involve working with organizations including:
- Internal Revenue Service.
- Department of Labor.
- Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
In many of the top ERISA law firms, employee benefits law practitioners are called upon to identify special issues and potential problems in corporate and partnership reorganizations, mergers, acquisitions and securities transactions. Lawyers work closely with public and private investment funds to counsel on fiduciary duties, prohibited transactions and various tax issues related to plan asset investments.
Executive compensation matters are an important component of employee benefits legal services and involve advising clients on the tax and accounting concerns surrounding:
- Equity-based compensation.
- Bonus arrangements.
- Supplemental retirement and deferred compensation plans.
- Executive employment and severance arrangements.
- Securities law compliance.
Employee benefits lawyers assist in ERISA litigation disputes to prosecute and defend a wide variety of fiduciary duty claims on behalf of employee benefit plans, plan trustees and plan service providers, including:
- Claims arising from significant plan investment losses.
- Claims challenging plan amendments or terminations.
- Claims challenging plan restrictions on particular types of coverage.
ERISA lawyers can represent corporations in benefits litigation, as lawyers for employees in a dispute or as counsel on a host of employment law matters. Hiring an ERISA lawyer can help protect interests, ensure compliance with ERISA regulations and mitigate the financial risk associated with employee benefit plans.
Joseph Bluestein is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office. He is a member of the Trusts, Estates & Wealth Preservation practice group. Joseph’s practice focuses on business, tax, and succession planning issues, particularly for closely held, family-owned businesses and professional medical and legal practices, providing counsel to all in connection with corporate, legal, and financial problems—and solutions. Joe negotiates and structures sales and ...
J.S. "Chris" Christie practices in Dentons Sirote’s Litigation group, based in Birmingham, Alabama. He has handled False Claims Act, class action, and bet-the-company cases, cases involving stock valuations, financial expert witnesses, and statistical expert witnesses, and appeals to the Supreme Court of Alabama and to the federal Circuit Courts of Appeals. He frequently speaks and publishes on employee benefits, legal ethics, and trial techniques. In employee benefits litigation, Chris...
C. Fred Daniels is a partner in the firm’s Birmingham, Alabama office, where his practice emphasizes estate and gift planning, administration of estates, taxation, closely-held businesses, and litigation involving the rights and duties of personal representatives and beneficiaries. Mr. Daniels has been the lead trial and appellate counsel in numerous estate, gift and income tax cases including O’Neal v. United States, 258 F.3d 1265 (11th Cir. 2001) (establishing that, in the Eleve...
Jack B. Levy, Partner in the Birmingham office, concentrates his practice in the areas of employer resources, employee benefits and executive compensation, corporate and business, health care, taxation and estate and trust planning. Mr. Levy represents numerous closely held businesses, professionals and professional corporations and negotiates and closes sales of professional practices and closely held business practices. He also lectures throughout the United States on issues relating to pen...
Jay G. Maples is a shareholder in Dentons' Birmingham office, where he is a member of the Corporate practice and co-leads the Dentons US Region Aviation and Aerospace team. With his extensive corporate and tax experience, he regularly handles a wide range of complex transactions and issues spanning various industries, including aviation, manufacturing, insurance, banking and financial services, and real estate. Jay's exceptional knowledge and experience in the aviation industry enables him to...
Dana Thrasher specializes in ERISA, regularly advising employers, trustees and service providers concerning qualified retirement plans, non-qualified plans, fringe benefits, welfare benefits and executive compensation issues. She has developed significant expertise in the ERISA/employee benefits practice area, representing a large and diverse client base. She regularly advises clients regarding planning and evaluating benefit programs, establishing and administering employee benefit plans, mo...
Brian Williams’ practice includes estate planning, estate and trust litigation, estate and trust administration, federal and state tax, and corporate and business transactions and issues. He practiced for 6 years as an in house counsel for a publicly traded corporation before entering private practice with his present firm in 1986. Brian graduated cum laude from the University of Alabama in 1976, B.S. degree/accounting major. He obtained his J.D. degree in 1979 from Cumberland School of...
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