ALBANY, N.Y., (May 8, 2009) -- Jackson Lewis LLP – one of the country’s largest and fastest growing workplace law firms – announced the expansion of its Employee Benefits Counseling, Benefits Litigation & Workplace Privacy Group, adding one partner in Albany and one associate who will work in New York and White Plains. The additions expand the Group to 15 attorneys in the Benefits Counseling Sub-Group. In addition, the Benefits Litigation Sub-Group comprises more than 20 attorneys.
The Jackson Lewis Benefits Counseling, Benefits Litigation & Workplace Privacy Group covers the following: Employee Benefits; Complex ERISA Litigation; Workplace Privacy and Executive Compensation.
Brian P. Goldstein has joined the Albany office of Jackson Lewis as a partner. Brian has 20 years’ experience in all aspects of employee benefits law and counseling. Before joining Jackson Lewis, Mr. Goldstein was president of, and a shareholder in, The Goldstein Law Firm, P.C., in Albany. His practice will continue to involve the design and implementation of all types of pension, profit sharing, 401(k), employee stock ownership, stock based compensation, nonqualified deferred compensation and tax-sheltered annuity plans, as well as various medical, vacation, severance, cafeteria, post-retirement and other “health-and-welfare” and fringe benefit plans. Mr. Goldstein regularly represents clients before the IRS in connection with resolving defects with their qualified plans, and in audits before the IRS, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
Mr. Goldstein said, “I am honored and excited to be a part of the Jackson Lewis team. Due to its national footprint, the firm has extensive resources and has capably positioned itself to provide representation to the most demanding and complex of client requirements.”
Mr. Goldstein earned his law degree from Albany Law School of Union University, and his B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany.
His professional memberships include the New York Employee Benefits Conference (former Member of the Board of Directors, State and Local Level), the New York State Bar Association (Tax Section, Member of Committee on Employee Benefits for the Labor and Employment Law Section and former Chair of the Elder Law Retirement Planning Subcommittee) and the American Bar Association (Tax and Employment and Labor Law Sections), and have included the American Society of Pension Actuaries (former Member of the Enforcement Subcommittee of the Government Affairs Committee), the ESOP Association and National Center for Employee Ownership. He is admitted to practice law in both New York and Massachusetts.
The Jackson Lewis Benefits Counseling, Benefits Litigation & Workplace Privacy Group has also added Melissa Ostrower as an associate who will divide her time between the firm’s New York and White Plains offices. Melissa has nine years’ experience in the practice of employee benefits law and was most recently an employee benefits associate with Dechert LLP. She received a LL.M. (Taxation) from New York University; and a J.D. with honors from George Washington University where she was a member of The George Washington University Law Review.
Firm-wide Managing Partner, Patrick L. Vaccaro, said, “We are pleased to welcome Brian and Melissa to Jackson Lewis. Brian has an outstanding reputation in the complex field of employee benefits law and has built excellent relationships with colleagues and clients. We are delighted to have him with us in Albany. Melissa follows a distinguished academic career with nine years of solid experience. With Brian and Melissa we continue to add very talented people to our growing Employee Benefits practice group.”
About the Jackson Lewis Employee Benefits PracticeDrawing from the experience and knowledge of more than 35 lawyers the Jackson Lewis Benefits Counseling, Benefits Litigation & Workplace Privacy Group has established a strong reputation for anticipating -- and quickly adapting to -- changing regulatory trends and developments. They provide comprehensive legal advice, counseling and representation to plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries, insurers and benefit plans relating to:
Employee benefits issues arising in the design, administration, and operation of benefit and compensation arrangements; The defense of benefit, fiduciary and other claims relating to plan operation, and the enforcement of their reimbursement, subrogation and other rights under the terms of the plan and law; and The protection, handling and use of employee-related data under both federal and local requirements. __________________________ About Jackson LewisFounded in 1958, Jackson Lewis is dedicated to representing management exclusively in workplace law with 565 attorneys practicing in 41 cities nationwide. Jackson Lewis has a wide-range of specialized practice areas, including: Affirmative Action and OFCCP Diversity Planning; Disability, Leave and Health Management; Employee Benefits, including Complex ERISA Litigation, Workplace Privacy and Executive Compensation; Global Immigration; Labor, including Preventive Practices; Litigation, including Class Actions, Complex Litigation and e-Discovery; Trade Secrets, Non-Competes and Workplace Technology; Wage and Hour Compliance; and Workplace Safety Compliance. In addition, Jackson Lewis provides advice nationally in other workplace law areas, including: Reductions in Force, WARN Act; Corporate Governance and Internal Investigations; Drug Testing and Substance Abuse Management; International Issues; Management Education, including e-Based Training; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Public Sector Issues; and Government Relations.
Additional information about Jackson Lewis can be found at www.jacksonlewis.com
__________________________ For more information, please contact:Lara Hamm, Public Relations Manager T: (212) 545-4031 email: hamml@jacksonlewis.com