The ‘very capable’ employee benefits and executive compensation team at Thompson Hine LLP advises large corporate clients on compliance, integration, and redesign . Cleveland-based Julia Ann Love heads the practice, with a strong record in helping clients navigate ’the legislative minefield’ of various healthcare mandates, including the recent SECURE 2.0 Act. Laura Ryan, ‘extremely knowledgeable about US benefits and 401(k) plans’, is a key name, while Kim Wilcoxon and Timothy Brown are well-versed in the benefits plan space. Shane Starkey is adept at advising clients on defined pension plans, defined contribution plans, and health and welfare plans. Washington DC-based Dominic DeMatties focuses on 401(k) plans and ERISA matters.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Thompson Hine has very strong knowledgeable talent in the areas of benefits, 401(k), and leave of absence.’

  • ‘Thompson Hine is able to achieve the difficult task of explaining benefits issues to clients with varying levels of knowledge in the area.’

  • ‘The team is very nimble, has great responsiveness and attention to details’

  • ‘Thompson Hine is able to boil down rapidly changing government regulations to the salient points and make it understandable for the client to interpret and to weigh the options.’

  • ‘Julia Love has helped clients to navigate the legislative minefield of the CAA, SECURE, SECURE 2.0 and various other healthcare mandates.'

  • ‘Laura Ryan is extremely knowledge about US benefits and 401K. She has a great attention to detail.'

  • ‘Laura Ryan can communicate benefits understandably, and she knows the area inside and out.’

Key clients

  • Cardinal Health
  • McDonald’s Corporation
  • Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
  • KeyBank
  • US Foods
  • UPS
  • Delta Air Lines
  • Chick-fil-A
  • Nordstrom
  • NCR Corporation
  • Verizon Communications
  • News Corp

Work highlights

  • Advising Nordstrom as ERISA counsel and advising on their multi-billion 401(k) plan as well as other benefits related compliance issues.
  • Assisting Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc on the harmonization and integration of all retirement and health and welfare plans.
  • Represent Chick-fil-A on all aspects of its qualified and nonqualified retirement plans and health and welfare programs.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Julia Ann Love