Jackson Lewis Expands Employee Benefits Practice Group with Addition of Brian Johnston in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, KS (January 13, 2017) Jackson Lewis P.C., one of the country’s preeminent workplace law firms, is pleased to announce Brian Johnston has joined the firm’s Kansas City Region office as a Principal. Mr. Johnston, who joins Jackson Lewis from Polsinelli, has dedicated more than two decades to helping clients navigate employee benefits law.
“A recognized leader in the health and welfare arena and well-respected attorney within the employee benefits and ERISA community, Brian is a welcome addition to Jackson Lewis’ expanding Employee Benefits Practice Group,” said Joy M. Napier-Joyce, Leader of the Group. “He will contribute greatly to our ability to help our clients design benefits and compensation strategies that allow them to incentivize and retain employees, all while keeping up with the ever-changing regulatory landscape.”
“We are thrilled to add an attorney of Brian’s caliber to our Kansas City team, where his years of experience and depth of practice will be in immediate demand as we pave the way for our clients to navigate the upcoming changes to employee benefits and health care reform that appears likely under the new Administration,” said Brian J. Christensen, Kansas City Region Office Managing Principal.
Mr. Johnston’s addition follows on the heels of positive growth within Jackson Lewis’ Kansas City Region office, which just added Of Counsel James R. Ward, formerly with Seyfarth Shaw, and elevated Kyle B. Russell to Principal and Office Litigation Manager.
“Attracting and retaining high-quality laterals is consistent with our long-term growth strategy which has, among other things, seen the office grow by 200% since opening three years ago,” added Mr. Christensen.
Mr. Johnston’s primary practice areas include the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), employee benefits, and taxation. He has spent over twenty-six years representing public and private businesses, government entities, third party administrators, and other insurance providers on a variety of employee benefit matters.
Mr. Johnston advises clients in the implementation and administration of health and welfare plans, including self-funded and fully insured health benefit plans and cafeteria plans. He is also experienced in other medical reimbursement programs, including defined contribution alternatives. In addition, he assists clients with plan design, implementation, and administration of retirement plans – pension, profit sharing, 401(k) plans, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), and other non-qualified deferred compensation plan alternatives and employee equity compensation arrangements.
Mr. Johnston regularly advises his clients on compliance with the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and other federal and state laws and regulations applicable to employee benefit plans. He also advises clients on the fiduciary responsibilities of employers, trustees, and third-party service providers of employee benefit plans and spends a significant amount of time assisting clients with legal and business review and analysis of key areas of compliance related to the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) and recent updates to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
Mr. Johnston received his B.S. from the University of Kansas and his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law.
Jackson Lewis’ Kansas City Region office can be reached at (913) 981-1018.
About Jackson Lewis
Jackson Lewis P.C. is a law firm with more than 800 attorneys in major cities nationwide serving clients across a wide range of practices and industries. Having built its reputation on providing premier workplace law representation to management, the firm has grown to include leading practices in the areas of government relations, health care and sports law. The firm’s commitment to client service, depth of expertise and innovation draws clients to Jackson Lewis for excellent value-driven legal advice.
Additional information about the firm can be found at jacksonlewis.com.
For more information, please contact:
Lara Hamm, Public Relations Manager T: (267) 319-7803 / E: HammL@jacksonlewis.com
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