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Attorney By Attorney Career Profiles of the Profession Who? Dodi Walker Gross Partner dgross@reedsmith.com What? Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields: Employee benefits including, consulting on design, compliance and administration of pension, profit sharing, and welfare plans; executive compensation; benefits issues in corporate transactions; claims and appeals; government audits; qualified domestic relations orders. When? In Practice Area: Since 1975 In the Legal Profession: Since 1975 (J.D. 1982) Where? Employer: Reed Smith LLP www.reedsmith.com City/State: Pittsburgh, PA Law School: Duquesne University School of Law Undergraduate School/Degree: Michigan State University - B.S., Multidisciplinary Social Science Why? Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area: Constantly changing. Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area: Comfort reading Statutes and Regulations. Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice Area: Take courses in ERISA and employee benefits, employment law, corporate law, tax law, securities law and estate planning. How? Career Path to Current Position: In 1975, obtained a Certificate in Employee Benefits from the Institute for Paralegal Training in Philadelphia. From 1975 to 1977, was a paralegal at Reed Smith in the Tax and Employee Benefits Group. From 1977 to 1983, was a supervisor and manager in the employee benefits department at Allegheny International, Inc. while working on a law degree in the evening. Started at Reed Smith as an associate attorney in 1984, became a partner in 1990. Bar Affiliations and Activities: Member of the American, Pennsylvania, and Allegheny County Bar Associations. U.S. Tax Court. Recent Professional Publications: Speaker at PBI Seminars on Qualified Domestic Relations Orders. How to Ensure That a DRO Qualifies Under the Detailed Tax and ERISA Requirements, which appeared in the December 1994 issue of The Journal of Taxation. Recent Professional Presentations: Speaker at NBI Seminar - QDRO Creation in Pennsylvania: Building a Future After a Split on April 8, 2003 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Memorable Career Moment: Being appointed to the Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities for a 2 year term in 2006. Having a party for ERISA's 25th birthday.