Erin Sweeney

Erin M. Sweeney

Partner
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) 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).

Bar admissionsDistrict of ColumbiaNew YorkPennsylvania
Education
  • J.D., American University, Washington College of Law

Awards

  • Chambers USA
    • Band 3, District of Columbia Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (2021-2023)
  • The Legal 500 United States
    • Recommended, Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and Retirement Plans: Transactional (2022)
  • Best Lawyers, "Best Lawyers in America"
  • Super Lawyers, "Top-rated Employee Benefits Attorney"

Publications

  • IRS announces 2024 retirement and benefit plan limits, SSA announces COLA adjustment, 15 November 2023
  • IRS announces 2023 retirement and benefit plan limits, SSA announces COLA adjustment, 7 November 2022
  • Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health: Implications for business of a post-Roe landscape, 22 June 2022

Seminars

  • ESG: What Does It Mean To Me (And My Clients), 2024 National Labor & Employment Law Symposium, February 5, 2024
  • The Disability Paid Leave Labyrinth, American Bar Association, January 19, 2024
  • "Fiduciary Hot Topics," American Bar Association, September 12, 2023
  • "Procedural Prudence: One Size Does Not Fit All," American Bar Association, September 12, 2023
  • "Mental Health Parity: Biden Administration Priority," American Bar Association, March 23, 2023
  • "Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization: Plan Design and Administration of Women's Healthcare in the New Frontier," American Bar Association, March 16, 2023

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

  • Member, Board of Governors, the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel
  • Senior Editor, BNA's flagship treatise, Employee Benefits Law
  • Chair, Joint Committee on Employer Benefits, American Bar Association
  • Co-Chair, ERISA Subcommittee, ABA Labor and Employment Law Section
  • Past Chair, Employee Benefits Committee, ABA Taxation Section

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