Charles P. Stevens

A persuasive advocate, Charlie vigorously defends employers and benefit plans in courts and other forums. He excels at assessing and fixing problems that arise with employee benefit programs and providing a strategically driven approach to benefits compliance and risk management planning.

As exclusive employee benefits counsel to many nationwide employers, Charlie’s practice focus extends to:

• Advising and defending employers regarding multiemployer pension plan claims, including withdrawal liability and contribution claims
• Providing consultation and advice to employers pertaining to benefits issues associated with collective bargaining, insurance practices, employer policies, and applicable laws
• Assisting employers and health plan sponsors in resolving problems concerning self-funded health plans
• Advising employers and health plans sponsors of options for mitigating risk concerning high health claims
• Advising clients with respect to multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs) and Department of Labor Form M-1
• Litigating and favorably resolving large retiree health class actions, including arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals
• Representing numerous employers in state and federal courts, courts of appeals, and other forums
• Assisting employers with legal issues associated with establishing on-site clinics and wellness programs
• Counseling on Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliance and strategic planning, particularly with respect to contingent workers
• Providing analysis and advice to employers concerning new employee benefit legislation and regulations
• Advising and defending employers on Americans with Disabilities Act and Family and Medical Leave Act matters.

Solutions in action

• Providing a health plan redraft and strategic planning advice to a manufacturing client who sought an affordable solution that did not require payment of ACA penalties.
• Representing a large dairy cooperative client in challenging a large assessment of multiemployer withdrawal liability through arbitration. Charlie obtained a very favorable settlement for his client.
• Identifying and recommending strategies to address multiemployer withdrawal liability risks. Through Charlie’s advice, a client was able to modify certain employment structures to avoid a substantial liability assessment.
• Successfully advising a private equity client whose purchase of an electrical contracting firm was threatened by obligations associated with union pension liabilities that would have transferred to the buyer.
• Assisting a consortium of six Wisconsin technical colleges in creating a self-funded multiple employer health plan. As a result, Wisconsin statues were changed to permit joint self-funding of health coverage for technical colleges.