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Small Law Firm Open Thread: ERISA / Employee Benefits Law

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Let’s push forward with our series of open threads on small law firms in different practice areas. To see what we’ve covered so far, click here and scroll down.
Today’s topic: ERISA LAW. For those of you who aren’t familiar with ERISA, we’ll quote a prior post of ours:

For all of you non-lawyers — or for those of you who sat in the back row in law school — ERISA stands for the “Employee Retirement Income Security Act.” It’s the federal law, originally passed in 1974 and subsequently amended, that governs the administration of pension and employee benefit plans. So yes, it’s pension law.

This area of law may not sound sexy, but it has some sexy practitioners. Back in 2006, we held an ERISA lawyer hotties contest. Feel free to check out the male nominees, the female nominees, and the ultimate winners.
More substantive thoughts on ERISA practice, after the jump.


Most major law firms have pension and employee benefits practices. This area of law is implicated when corporations combine, so firms that do a significant amount of M&A work tend to have this expertise in house.
But there are also small firms that focus on this area of law. Several of the ERISA hotties came from one leading boutique, the Groom Law Group. Top ERISA lawyers are also often found at smaller firms focused on the closely related field of tax law, such as Ivins, Phillips & Barker and Miller & Chevalier (which is expanding its ERISA practice).
What is it like to practice at a smaller law firm focused on benefits law? What can be expected in terms of pay, hours and job satisfaction? How does one get a job at an ERISA boutique?
If you can speak to these questions, please discuss in the comments. As always, (anonymous) information about the city you work in and how much you make is appreciated. If you have questions of your own about this field, please pose them in the comments too. Thanks.
Earlier: Prior small law firm open threads

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