>Pension Protection

Hagens Berman  has long been a leader in protecting the rights of working men, women, and their families, through its ERISA practice and has represented them in some of the largest cases in the history of ERISA law.

The federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) spells out the duties that plan administrators, trustees and other fiduciaries owe to participants and beneficiaries in retirement programs including Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), 401(k) plans, healthcare and pension plans.

Our firm has substantial experience in recovering retirement funds lost by employees as the result of imprudent and disloyal conduct by plan fiduciaries, and in otherwise safeguarding the rights of ERISA plan participants.

Courts have recognized our aptitude in handling large ERISA cases, and have appointed our firm as co-lead counsel in a number of such cases, including in the groundbreaking Enron ERISA litigation. Enron produced $220 million in settlements for the benefit of former Enron employees, making it the largest ERISA settlement to date. Hagens Berman served as co-lead in the GM ERISA litigation, which resulted in a proposed settlement for $37.5 million and substantial injunctive relief for the benefit of a class of 401(k) plan participants. We also served in ERISA cases on behalf of employees of IPALCO, the Montana Power Company and United Airlines.

Hagens Berman pioneered the discovery of fraud in discounts to employee health plans, and led a case that broke new ground in the coverage of contraceptives by health insurance plans.


Key Attorneys

Steve W. Berman

Mr. Berman co-founded the firm in 1993, and is the managing partner. He is considered one of the most su...   link >>

Andrew M. Volk
Mr. Volk is a partner at Hagens Berman where he has worked since 1996.

Recently, Mr. Volk has be...   link >>