Browse 20+ providers in this category.
Featured Providers
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Day Pitney LLP - Greenwich, CT
ERISA Attorney
<p>With 13 offices from Connecticut to Florida, Day Pitney LLP offers broad coverage across the Northeast corridor and the Washington, DC market, with... -
Foster Garvey PC - Seattle, WA
ERISA Attorney
<p>Formed in 2019 from the combination of Foster Pepper PLLC and Garvey Schubert Barer, PC, Foster Garvey PC brings more than a century of legal roots... -
Cozen O'connor - Philadelphia, PA
ERISA Attorney
<p>From its Philadelphia headquarters, Cozen O’Connor runs a national platform with offices across the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Mo... -
Dechert LLP - New York, NY
ERISA Attorney
<p>Founded in 1875, Dechert LLP has an Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice that includes fiduciary advice and ERISA compliance work ... -
Bose Mckinney & Evans LLP - Indianapolis, IN
ERISA Attorney
<p>Founded in 1955, Bose McKinney & Evans LLP has offices in Indianapolis (headquarters), Fort Wayne, and Washington, D.C., giving the firm reach ... -
Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC - Syracuse, NY
ERISA Attorney
<p>Founded in 1897, Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC is a law firm with its headquarters in Syracuse and a long-running presence across Upstate New Yor... -
Hedger & Hedger - Hertford, NC
ERISA Attorney
<p>Veteran-owned and founded in 1982, Hedger & Hedger works with businesses on corporate and tax matters that affect day-to-day operations and lon... -
Heltzel Williams PC - Salem, OR
ERISA Attorney
<p>Tracing its roots to before 1913, Heltzel Williams PC has long been part of the legal community in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Headquartered in Sal... -
Delaney & Delaney LLC - Indianapolis, IN
ERISA Attorney
<p>Known in Indiana courts for handling tough employment and commercial disputes, Delaney & Delaney LLC is a boutique civil litigation firm based ... -
Ogletree Deakins - Greenville, SC
ERISA Attorney
Ogletree Deakins, full name Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., is a leading labor and employment law firm headquartered in Greenville, SC... -
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP - New York, NY
ERISA Attorney
<p>Cross-border deals and disputes are a major part of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP’s day-to-day work, including matters that touch Latin Americ... -
Hinckley Allen LLP - Hartford, CT
ERISA Attorney
<p>From its Hartford headquarters and a network of offices across the Northeast, Hinckley Allen LLP supports employers and other organizations with le... -
Hinkle Law Firm LLC - Wichita, KS
ERISA Attorney
<p>With offices in Wichita and Lenexa in the Kansas City–Wichita corridor, plus Tallahassee in Florida’s Panhandle, Hinkle Law Firm LLC is a trial law... -
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP - New York, NY
ERISA Attorney
<p>Founded in 1971, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP works with corporations, investment funds, and financial institutions on U.S. and... -
Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel - San Mateo, CA
ERISA Attorney
<p>In the San Mateo area on the San Francisco Peninsula, this law firm handles ERISA and employee benefits work for businesses and individuals. Hoge F... -
Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd - Greenville, CA
ERISA Attorney
<p>Founded in 1887, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd is an ERISA and employee benefits law firm based in Greenville in the Upstate South Carolina region. The f... -
Holifield & Janich - Knoxville, GA
ERISA Attorney
<p>Founded in 2004 by Al Holifield as Holifield & Associates, Holifield & Janich is an ERISA and employee benefits law firm that also handles ... -
The Frickey Law Firm - Lakewood, CO
ERISA Attorney
The Frickey Law Firm is a highly respected personal injury and workers\' compensation law firm with over 60 years of experience serving clients throug... -
Holder Law Group LLC - Champaign, IL
ERISA Attorney
<p>From Champaign in the Champaign–Urbana metro, Holder Law Group LLC is a family-owned law firm led by siblings Betsy and Chas Holder. The practice w... -
Seltzer & Associates, P.C. - Philadelphia, PA
ERISA Attorney
Seltzer & Associates P C is a distinguished Philadelphia-based law firm specializing in individual disability insurance and long-term disability claim...
Why Specialized ERISA Counsel is Essential for Plan Sponsors
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established retirement and health plans in private industry. It is widely considered one of the most complex areas of American law, combining intricate tax codes with strict labor regulations. Because of this complexity, general corporate counsel is often ill-equipped to handle specific benefits issues. ERISA attorneys dedicate their practice to this niche, providing the critical guidance necessary to protect plan sponsors, fiduciaries, and service providers from costly litigation and regulatory penalties.
Defense Against DOL Investigations and Fiduciary Breaches
The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) aggressively enforces ERISA standards. An investigation can be triggered by participant complaints or data flagged in your annual Form 5500 filing. In these high-stakes scenarios, an ERISA attorney is your first line of defense. They assist in producing the required documentation, representing the plan sponsor during interviews, and negotiating with federal investigators. Furthermore, if a plan fiduciary is accused of a breach—such as allowing excessive fees or making imprudent investment decisions—specialized counsel is required to navigate the defense and protect the personal assets of company officers.
Fixing Plan Errors: EPCRS, VFCP, and DFVCP
Even with diligent administration, mistakes happen. A common role for ERISA counsel is guiding sponsors through voluntary correction programs to fix errors before they are discovered by an audit. These include:
- EPCRS (Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System): Used to correct tax-qualification failures, such as excluding eligible employees or miscalculating profit-sharing contributions.
- VFCP (Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program): Used to correct fiduciary breaches, such as late deposits of employee deferrals.
- DFVCP (Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program): Used when a plan fails to file their annual report on time.
Your attorney will often collaborate with your 401(k) auditor and Third-Party Administrator (TPA) to calculate lost earnings and prepare the submission, ensuring the plan maintains its tax-advantaged status.
Proactive Governance and Plan Design
Beyond crisis management, ERISA attorneys are vital for strategic planning. As legislation evolves—such as the recent SECURE 2.0 Act—plan documents must be amended to remain compliant. Attorneys review these documents to ensure they match the plan's actual operations. They also review service agreements with plan advisors and recordkeepers to ensure fee transparency and limit the sponsor's liability. By engaging counsel for proactive governance, companies can build a "litigation-proof" compliance structure that stands up to scrutiny.