Ryan Curtis (practice group chair) has handled numerous Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) litigation matters regarding benefit disputes, unpaid employer contributions, and multiemployer plan withdrawal liability matters. He advises and defends plans during audits by the IRS and U.S. Department of Labor. He helps plans comply with important federal laws including ERISA, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). He assists plans with compliance failures and submitting correction applications to the IRS.
David Heap is a former co-chair and member of the program planning committee of the Western Benefits Conference, jointly sponsored by the Western Pension & Benefits Council and the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries, which arranges the program, topics and speakers for an annual education conference relating to employee benefits law. He is a former president of the Phoenix chapter of the Western Pension & Benefits Council and former member of its steering committee.
Cindy Shupe is chair of the IRS Pacific Coast TE/GE Council which is composed of private practitioners and serves as a sounding board to the IRS on matters related to retirement policy, specific tax issues, procedures and IRS enforcement initiatives affecting employee benefits.
Kristi Hill consults with plan sponsors and others with respect to plan design, corrections and administration, and also assists with applications to the IRS for both plan corrections and terminations. She is a board member of the Phoenix chapter of the Western Pension & Benefits Council, which organizes educational meetings and conferences relating to employee benefits law and issues.
Our employment attorneys routinely advise clients on issues arising under ERISA and tax implications relating to various benefits found in the Internal Revenue Code (Code). Our practice has a range of experienced employment law attorneys and paralegals so we can properly staff benefit matters — even those that are highly complex — in a cost-effective manner and provide excellent service. Our employee benefits practice covers all of the client needs set out below.