Practice Areas & Industries: Jones Day

Practice/Industry Group Overview

Jones Day has extensive experience in the representation of public pension plans and their governmental sponsors, including:

• Fiduciary and governance counseling.
• Compliance with federal and state tax requirements.
• Advice about state pension laws, including "vested rights" concepts, and the impact of proposed legislation.
• Negotiation of private alternative equity and real estate investments through limited partnership funds or direct investment.
• Advice regarding the design, operation, administration, and funding of employee benefit plans.
• Advice regarding health-care regulation, including HIPAA.
• Litigation and prelitigation advice, including statutory interpretation, impairment of contractual vested rights, status of independent contractors as employees, and funding of defined benefit plans.

Jones Day lawyers who practice in this area understand that it is critical to appreciate fully the unique environment in which the governmental employer and public pension plan operate. Our lawyers are sensitive to the status of the public pension plan as a tax-exempt benefit plan that: (i) are sponsored and administered by a political body, typically operated under open meeting, public records, and contract bidding standards, (ii) are subject to a special set of tax and fiduciary laws and standards; and (iii) typically rely upon outside investment advisors and consultants in their alternative asset and real estate investing.

Contact(s)

Sarah Heck Griffin
Los Angeles
Tel: 1.213.489.3939