Join us at Andrei's!

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

The Long Arm of The Law - ERISA Litigation Update from Timothy Verrall

Our Program:

Litigation is expensive and time-consuming, but the parties often leave the courthouse with hard-won lessons for the future (and lighter wallets).  Fortunately for us, the spectators, the experiences reflected in the pages of the Federal Reporter are available for all to see, and we can use the cautionary tales they tell to minimize the risks to our clients as they navigate the complex and evolving requirements that apply to employee benefit plans.

ERISA has been fertile ground for litigation for years, and 2022 did not mark a change in that regard.  The Supreme Court sidestepped an opportunity to significantly weaken fee and cost claims in 2022, likely meaning these claims will continue to bedevil plan fiduciaries, and its decision in Dobbs is guaranteed to continue to reverberate through the benefits world for years to come.  Other courts got in on the action as well, with key decisions involving dispute resolution, cybersecurity, COBRA administration, mental health parity compliance, and every federal judge’s favorite topic, ERISA preemption.  To keep you up-to-date about developments in the courts during 2022 and to give you a preview of coming attractions in 2023, we will discuss these and other emerging ERISA litigation issues for plan sponsors, fiduciaries, and vendors.  Come join us as we learn from the mistakes of others and discover a few new ways to help our clients avoid ending up on the wrong side of the “versus” in a case caption.

About our Speaker:

Timothy G. Verrall is a shareholder in the Houston office of Ogletree Deakins where he advises a diverse range of clients on a wide variety of employee benefit plan issues arising under ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, and related federal and state laws including employee benefit plan design and administration, executive and incentive compensation, controversies and litigation, plan investments and health care privacy.  Tim is a past president of the Orange County Chapter of the Western Pension & Benefits Conference and is a frequent speaker on employee benefits topics for industry organizations.

Doors open at 2:30 pm for check-in and networking. Our program will begin at 3:00 pm and we hope you will stick around afterwards to mingle during the hosted social hour that will begin at approximately 4:40 pm. The registration fee includes a hosted bar, appetizers and valet parking.

Continuing Education:

• 2 CE for AIF (pending
• 2 CECs for ERPA (pending)
• 2 CPEs for ASPPA certifications
• 2 CECs for NIPA certifications
• 2 hours for California CPAs 
• 1.50 hours of California MCLE
• 2 hours for Certified Financial Planners (pending)
• 2 CE for CRPS 
• 2 CE for CEBS

Pricing:

• Early Bird (through May 1st): $45 for members, $65 for non-members 
• Regular: $55 for members, $75 for non-members
• Gold Members: 1 prepaid ticket for each breakfast forum
• Corporate & Sponsor Members: 3 prepaid tickets for each breakfast forum

• WP&BC Members can bring a guest for free!  This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce your peers and colleagues to our Chapter.  Remember, your guest should be a first-time visitor and potential member.   Please email info@wpbcorangecounty.org with guest information.