Employee Benefits

Spencer Fane is proud to announce that the firm earned a total of 149 rankings in the 2023 “Best Law Firm” rankings from U.S. News & World Report Best Lawyers, including three Tier 1 national rankings and 51 Tier 1 regional rankings.

Spencer Fane attorneys Helen Holden and Beth Miller recently published articles in BenefitsPRO covering workplace sexual harassment claims and ERISA-covered defined contribution plans compliance.

Spencer Fane attorneys Brian Peterson, Megan Meadows, Randi Winter, and Julia Vander Weele were recently featured in BenefitsPRO, the Kansas City Business Journal, and the St. Louis Business Journal, addressing updates related to COVID-19 mandates and workplace issues.

Spencer Fane attorney Julia Vander Weele was recently featured in an article for the Kansas City Business Journal covering the impact COVID-19 is having on employee health plans.

Spencer Fane attorneys Beth Miller and Natalie Miller recently wrote articles published in BenefitsPRO covering employee benefits issues. Beth discussed prohibited transaction exemption 2020-02 regarding investment advice and Natalie discussed 2022 inflation adjustments for benefit plans.

Spencer Fane attorney Julia Vander Weele was recently featured in an article for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) covering employee benefits related to COVID-19.

Spencer Fane attorney Natalie Miller published an article in BenefitsPRO, covering the recently released Affordable Care Act (ACA) regulations and Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA) statutory requirements. Both regulations include new transparency requirements applicable to group health plans.

Spencer Fane is proud to announce that the firm earned a total of 106 rankings in the 2022 edition of the U.S. News and Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list, including 29 Tier 1 regional rankings as well as seven Tier 2 national rankings.

Spencer Fane attorney Natalie Miller recently published an article in BenefitsPRO about the upcoming COBRA notice deadline.

Spencer Fane attorney Natalie Miller recently wrote an article for BenefitsPRO covering the changes to COBRA coverage resulting from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act.

Spencer Fane attorney Beth Miller recently wrote an article featured in BenefitsPRO on the United States Department of Labor’s (DOL) new cybersecurity guidance for retirement plan fiduciaries and service providers.

Spencer Fane attorney Greg Ash was recently featured in a Kansas City Business Journal article covering the additional employee benefits available in the new stimulus package.

Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to announce Natalie Miller has joined the Employee Benefits practice group as an of counsel attorney in the firm’s Overland Park office.

Spencer Fane attorney Greg Ash recently authored an article published by Bloomberg Law highlighting the major impact the year-end COVID-19 stimulus package has on employee benefits plans. Greg emphasized the importance that employers adapt to this change.

Spencer Fane attorney Julia Vander Weele was recently interviewed by the Kansas City Business Journal about her new role as office managing partner for the firm’s Kansas City office. In the article, she discusses the priorities for her as the first full-time managing partner for the office and her path to this leadership role.

Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to announce Julia M. Vander Weele has been named office managing partner for the firm’s Kansas City office. Her duties become effective Jan. 1, 2021.

Spencer Fane attorney Beth Miller recently authored an article for BenefitsPro highlighting the 2021 inflation adjustments relevant to employee benefit plan sponsors and administrators.

Spencer Fane is proud to announce that the firm earned a total of 102 rankings in the 2021 edition of U.S. News and Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list, including 36 Tier 1 regional rankings as well as six Tier 2 national rankings.

Spencer Fane attorney Beth Miller recently published an article featured in BenefitsPro reminding plan sponsors of possibly overlooked aspects of the SECURE and CARES Acts.

Spencer Fane attorneys Greg Ash and Rob Browning recently published an article featured in Bloomberg Law discussing the impact of COVID-19 on benefit plan sponsors and how employers can effectively move forward.

Spencer Fane attorney Rob Browning recently published an article in BenefitsPRO explaining new guidance from the IRS on suspending 401(k) contributions.

The Spencer Fane Employee Benefits group recently hosted the two-part webinar series, “Coming Out of Quarantine,” focused on COVID-19-related policy and regulation changes. Attorneys advised employee benefit plan sponsors on a post-pandemic action plan.

Spencer Fane attorney Rob Browning recently published an article in BenefitsPRO, explaining the impact of the new “safe harbor” proposal for the electronic distribution of ERISA-required notices and disclosures.

Spencer Fane attorneys Greg Ash and Rob Browning recently published an article in BenefitsPRO explaining the IRS guidance on cafeteria plans.

Spencer Fane attorney Greg Ash recently published an article that was featured in a special report by WealthManagement magazine on the CARES Act and other resources available for retirement plan sponsors.

Spencer Fane attorney Greg Ash recently published an article with BenefitsPRO, a leading ALM publication on employee benefits and labor and employment law, on the CARES Act and its effect on retirement plans.

Spencer Fane attorney Beth Miller recently authored an article for BenefitsPRO, a leading ALM publication on employee benefits and labor and employment law, on the SEC’s extension of the filing period for investment advisers due to COVID-19. Beth writes to provide information on conditions that must be met to rely on the order issued.

Spencer Fane attorney Greg Ash recently published an article with BenefitsPRO, a leading ALM publication on employee benefits and labor and employment law, on the need for ERISA fiduciaries to actively monitor market turbulence related to COVID-19.

Spencer Fane partner Greg Ash, will lead a panel discussion at the American Conference Institute’s National Forum on ERISA Litigation.

Spencer Fane attorney Greg Ash was recently interviewed for an article in Ignites explaining the potential impact of the lawsuits against Fidelity on the recordkeeping industry.

Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to announce Erin Bustamante-Trinidad has joined the firm’s Denver office as an associate in the Employee Benefits Practice Group.

Spencer Fane attorney Greg Ash is presenting at the American Conference Institute’s National Forum on ERISA Litigation, November 16 in New York.

Spencer Fane attorney Greg Ash recently published an article in Benefits Pro discussing how the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) impacts nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements.

Spencer Fane is pleased to announce that 59 of the firm’s attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2019 edition of Best Lawyers in America. Attorneys are recognized in their respective practice areas.

Spencer Fane LLP partner Ken Mason was recently quoted in Employee Benefit Adviser in an article detailing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s effect on transportation assistance benefits.

In an article in Employee Benefits News titled “A closer look at the proposed delay of disability claims and appeals procedures,” Ken Mason reviews the Department of Labor’s proposed 90-day delay in the applicability of disability claims and appeals regulations that were finalized in the waning days of the Obama Administration.

The Spencer Fane Employee Benefits group will host its annual seminar this fall in the Denver and Kansas City areas. The theme this year is:  “Benefits 2017:  Do You Know What You Need to Know?”

Spencer Fane is pleased to announce that 58 of the firm’s attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2018 edition of Best Lawyers in America. Attorneys are recognized in their respective practice areas ranging from white collar criminal defense and environmental litigation to bankruptcy and tax law.