Julia provides strategic counsel on a broad range of employee benefits matters including plan design and administration, employee plan governance, and fiduciary obligations. She leverages a deep understanding of benefits administration to provide tailored, actionable advice on complex compliance issues and navigating the intricacies of the federal laws and regulatory frameworks governing employee benefit plans.
In her practice, Julia focuses on:
- Ensuring plan compliance under the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA
- Advising on strategic compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), COBRA, Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Resolving concerns related to self-funded health plans
- Counseling on the strategic and compliance considerations associated with establishing and maintaining on-site clinics and wellness programs
- Advising on compliance considerations for church plans and multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs)
- Resolving disputes related to IRS Employer Shared Responsibility Payments
- Correcting plan failures in accordance with the IRS Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS) and DOL Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (VFCP) procedures
- Providing strategic counsel on options for mitigating risks related to high-cost health claims
- Preparing participant communications such as summary plan descriptions
- Drafting qualified, non-qualified, and health and welfare employee benefit plans
- Advising on employee benefits compliance considerations associated with employment, bonus, separation/severance, and professional employer organization (PEO) agreements
Julia first gained employee benefits experience in her role as a human resource generalist and wellness program coordinator for a group of nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities in Wisconsin and Michigan prior to pursuing a law degree. While in law school, she worked as a legal research assistant focusing on employee benefits and employment-related matters and also served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Annette Kingsland Ziegler and the Honorable N. Patrick Crooks in the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Julia also gained experience working as a general counsel intern for Bemis Company, Inc. where she researched corporate governance and employment-related matters.
Julia is a member of the Firm’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and serves as lead of the Michael Best Parents & Caregivers Employee Resource Group.