Erin Sweeney

Erin M. Sweeney

Partner
Washington, DC
About

Erin M. Sweeney advises on all facets of employee benefits, including Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliance, mental health parity, transparency, health privacy and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), welfare benefit claims, health insurance continuation (COBRA), US Department of Labor (DOL) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audits and investigations, and employee benefit plan administration, including the application of Title I of ERISA to benefit plans. She counsels and represents parties in litigation regarding fiduciary obligations, including plan investments, fee disclosure and prohibited transactions and exemptions. She additionally provides advice on post-retirement medical benefits and the employee benefits provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).

Areas of FocusHealthcareEmploymentCorporate
Bar admissionsDistrict of ColumbiaNew YorkPennsylvania

Awards

Chambers USA

  • Band 2, District of Columbia Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, (2026)
  • Band 3, District of Columbia Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, (2019 – 2025)

The Legal 500 United States

  • Recommended, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation and Retirement Plans: Design, (2024 – 2026)
  • Recommended, Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and Retirement Plans: Transactional, (2022)
Additional Recognitions
  • Best Lawyers®, Best Lawyers in America®
  • Top-rated Employee Benefits Attorney, Super Lawyers
Education
  • J.D., American University, Washington College of Law
    cum laude
  • M.A., American University
  • B.S., B.A., Ohio University
    summa cum laude

Seminars

  • "Benefits Management in a Changing Regulatory Environment," 2026 National Labor & Employment Law Symposium, February 2, 2026
  • "Get Your ERISA Litigation On!" American Bar Association, February 21, 2025
  • "Federal Policy/ERISA in a Changing Environment (Otherwise Known as Unleashing Prosperity Through Delegation)," American Bar Association, May 9, 2025
  • "Trump's DOL: A Second Bite at the Apple," American Bar Association, February 20, 2025
  • "Mental Health Parity Russian Roulette – Is it Worth it?" 2025 National Labor Employment Law Symposium, January 27, 2025
  • "The Death Knell for Deference: Will it Actually Matter to My Clients?" American Bar Association, September 23, 2024
  • "To Defer or Not to Defer?" American Bar Association, May 3, 2024
  • "Fiduciary Rule 3.0," American Bar Association, April 17, 2024
  • "Implications of Investment Policy Statements on Employee Benefits and ESG Investments in ERISA Plans," American Bar Association, March 14, 2024
  • "ESG: What Does It Mean To Me (And My Clients)," 2024 National Labor & Employment Law Symposium, February 5, 2024
  • "Hot Topics in Health Benefits," American Bar Association, February 3, 2024

Prior Experience

Sweeney previously served as a senior benefit law specialist for the DOL's Division of Fiduciary Interpretations. At the DOL, she was appointed as the designated representative to quarterly DOL Office of Enforcement meetings, served as the designated DOL representative to Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) board meetings, developed and conducted DOL auditor training, was a primary architect of the DOL's qualified default investment regulation proposal and received an Exceptional Achievement award for her participation in drafting the Pension Protection Act. Sweeney additionally testified on behalf of the US in multiple ERISA criminal matters for the DOL.

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Co-Chair, ERISA Subcommittee, ABA Labor and Employment Law Section
  • Member, The American College of Employee Benefits Counsel
  • Past Chair, Joint Committee on Employee Benefits, American Bar Association
  • Past Chair, Employee Benefits Committee, ABA Taxation Section

My latest insights

Publication
metallic facade

Voluntary benefit programs face increased ERISA fiduciary scrutiny: Top points

19 March 2026

Publication
Architecture_reflection

IRS announces 2026 retirement and benefit plan limits, SSA announces COLA adjustment

14 November 2025 .21 minute read

Publication
capsules and pills

Paying for direct primary care arrangements with HSAs is now permitted – with caveats

6 August 2025 .6 minute read

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Connect

Phone

+1 202 799 4323
(Work, Washington, DC)
+1 202 799 5252
(Fax)