ERISA Fiduciary Law Series: Part 1

ERISA 101: The Basics

This video series on ERISA Fiduciary Law highlights current ERISA issues in the Courts, Congress, or at the DOL. The Courts have been flooded with complex ERISA cases and resolutions to some involved large settlements.  Congress continues to pass legislation affecting employee benefit plans requiring plan sponsors to act.  And the DOL has certain enforcement and regulatory initiatives in the pipeline.  Jose M. Jara, counsel at Fox Rothschild, LLP, will guide you on ERISA topics by discussing in depth with special guests from the insurance industry to provide their insights for mitigating risks.

In the first video, Jose will lay out ERISA principles which will serve as the foundation to the remainder of the video series.  The discussion will include:

•              What type of plans and parties are involved?

•              Who is a fiduciary?

•              What are your fiduciary duties?

•              What are the prohibited transactions?

•              Which governmental agencies enforce ERISA?

You can watch the video below, and keep an eye out in the coming weeks for more installments of this series.

Footnote:

Fiduciaries must act “with an eye single to the interests of the participants and beneficiaries.” Donovan v. Cunningham, 716 F.2d 1455, 1473 (5th Cir. 1983)(citing to Donovan v. Bierwirth 680 F.d 263, 271 (2d Cir. 1982)).

Meet the Speaker

Jose Jara, Esq., Fox Rothschild

José M. Jara is Counsel in the Employee Benefits Department of Fox Rothschild, LLP, and focuses his practice on ERISA litigation and counseling.  He has defended fiduciaries and boards of directors against ERISA class action litigation alleging breach of fiduciary duty, including imprudent investments, excessive fees, and valuation issues in Employee Stock Ownership Plans. Mr. Jara’s practice also includes representing clients under investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) regarding civil and/or criminal violations of ERISA. He was formerly a complex claims director for a major international insurance company and a senior pension law specialist with the DOL’s Employee Benefits Security Administration. He is currently the Group Chair of the Employee Plans and Executive Compensation Group of the American Bar Association and a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center.