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Attorney
By
Attorney
 Career
Profiles of the Profession
Who?
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
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Law School:
Duquesne University School of Law
Undergraduate School/Degree:
Michigan State University -
B.S., Multidisciplinary Social Science
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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.
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