Practice Areas & Industries: Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

Practice/Industry Group Overview

A core group of ERISA attorneys frequently play an integral role in advising clients of the Department, exploiting their broad experience in the area of ERISA fiduciary responsibilities and obligations. These attorneys work on a daily basis with asset managers, designers of investment products and the firm's broker-dealer clients with respect to the application of the fiduciary standards of ERISA and other similar laws to their activities. Accordingly, they play an important role in structuring new investment products, services, businesses, and vehicles, both traditional and alternative in nature; they frequently provide creative solutions designed to achieve the results desired by clients, while helping to ensure that the products and services made available to the employee benefit plan market comply with applicable legal requirements. Clients are kept advised of the implications of new ERISA-related laws, regulations, and interpretations affecting their businesses, and Cadwalader's ERISA attorneys have significant experience representing clients in seeking relief and/or guidance from the Department of Labor, having achieved numerous landmark ERISA exemptions and interpretations. For example, Cadwalader ERISA attorneys played a leading role in obtaining ERISA relief to allow plans to purchase government-backed and then private label residential mortgage pass-through certificates, and still later, commercial mortgage- and asset-backed securities. Cadwalader's ERISA attorneys enjoy a well-earned reputation for innovation, in depth knowledge of the law and prudent judgment.