Spearheaded by Chicago-based Nancy Ross, who is exclusively focused on defending employee benefits class action lawsuits under ERISA, Mayer Brown fields a specialized team separate from its benefits and general litigation practitioners who engage with a vast clientele including plan sponsors, administrators, fiduciaries, trustees and financial institutions in class actions and individual benefits disputes, often covering novel and precedent-setting challenges. One such example involved successfully defending Yale University in a first-of-its-kind jury trial in Connecticut that alleged that the university had breached its fiduciary duty to prudently monitor the plan’s recordkeeping fees and investment lineup, as well as the share classes offered for those investments. Reginald Goeke is experienced in ERISA class actions and has represented boards of directors and special committees in a number of internal corporate investigations and securities and ERISA law violations. Brantley Webb‘s expertise extends to civil litigation and trade secret matters, as well as ERISA class action experience, while Alex Lakatos specializes in class and derivative actions under ERISA, including 401(k) and 403(b) plans. Unless otherwise stated, all lawyers mentioned are based in Washington DC.
L’éditorial du Legal 500

Clients clés

  • Yale University
  • Cook Group Incorporated
  • Marmon Holdings
  • Georgetown University
  • Wood Group US Holdings
  • WEC Energy Group
  • HMSHost International
  • Nestlé USA, Inc. and its board of directors
  • Cornell University
  • Siemens Corporation

Points forts

  • Defending Cornell University in a case before the United States Supreme Court involving the issue of the appropriate pleading standard to apply in an ERISA case, alleging prohibited transactions by plan fiduciaries in violation of the statute.
  • Achieved an across-the-board win at trial for Wood Group US Holdings in the Central District of California, proving the claim to be false that the client imprudently managed its US 401(k) plan and in so doing, breached fiduciary duties under ERISA.
  • Successfully defended WEC Energy Group in the Eastern District of Wisconsin after discovery, dismissing plaintiffs' claims that the client imprudently overpaid for recordkeeping costs and imprudently selected supposedly underperforming investments for its 401(k) Plan. The court concluded that the plaintiffs’ case was “much ado about nothing of substance.”

Avocats

Hall of Fame

Avocats au sommet de leur profession, largement reconnus et respectés par l'ensemble du marché pour leur expertise éprouvée et leur intervention récurrente et longue date dans les dossiers les plus complexes et prestigieux.

Nancy Ross

Les grands avocats du marché

Avocats associés reconnus parmi les leaders du marché par leurs pairs et leurs clients, régulièrement présents dans les grands dossiers dans lesquels ils sont au premier plan.

Les grands avocats de demain

Jeunes associés disposant d’une reconnaissance montante sur le marché, jouant régulièrement un rôle clé dans des dossiers majeurs.

Responsable de la pratique

Nancy Ross

Autres avocats clés

Reginald Goeke; Brantley Webb; Alex Lakatos