In this episode of Employment and Benefits Unpacked, hosts Reginald Goeke, Rick Nowak, and Stephanie Vasconcellos examine several recent ERISA class actions asserting novel challenges to employer voluntary benefit programs including accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity coverage. The conversation delves into whether and when these programs are ERISA plans, the contours of the voluntary benefits safe harbor under 29 CFR § 2510.3-1(j), the plaintiffs' theories of fiduciary liability against employers and their insurance brokers in these lawsuits, and the practical implications for employers—including anticipated legal arguments and the potential risk that employers may stop making voluntary benefit programs available to their employees.

Join us for this three-part series covering how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reshapes the workplace benefits conversation. This series features Ryan Liebl, Hillary August, and Stephanie Vasconcellos who provide insight into the benefits and compensation specifics of this new legislation. Part 3 spotlights updates in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act impacting executive compensation, including a summary of the further expansion of the application of the limitation deduction in Code Section 162(m) for certain companies, the further expansion of the application of the excise tax on nonprofits for executive compensation paid to certain covered employees, and the changes in alternative minimum tax and the importance of the alternative minimum tax to employers who grant incentive stock options. Tune in for clear and actionable takeaways you can use with your leadership team, your HR team, and your workforce.

Join us for this three-part series covering how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reshapes the workplace benefits conversation. This series features Hillary August, Stephanie Vasconcellos, and Ryan Liebl who provide insight into the benefits and compensation specifics of this new legislation. Part 2 spotlights the new Trump accounts and how you can leverage them to kick start long term financial wellness. We dive into dependent care benefits, added flexibility for health savings accounts, and practical takeaways for plan design, compliance, and employee engagement. Tune in for clear and actionable takeaways you can use with your leadership team, your HR team, and your workforce.

Join us for this three-part series covering how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reshapes the workplace benefits conversation. This series features Hillary August, Stephanie Vasconcellos, and Ryan Liebl who provide insight into the benefits and compensation specifics of this new legislation. Part 1 spotlights new, tax breaks for tipped and overtime pay, updated employer reporting expectations, and a reset on fringe perks. Tune in for clear and actionable takeaways you can use with your leadership team, your HR team, and your workforce.

In this episode of Employment and Benefits Unpacked, Chris Fisher, head of Mayer Brown's UK Employment and Benefits Group, and Hagen Köckeritz, head of the Employment and Benefits Group in Germany, share a practical playbook for internal employment investigations amid rising complaints and regulatory scrutiny. They discuss when to take a formal or informal approach, how to preserve evidence and maintain confidentiality, and how to select an impartial investigator while navigating privilege pitfalls across jurisdictions. The conversation also covers scoping, interviews, data privacy and cross border constraints, and how to document findings and decide next steps. Listen for concise, actionable guidance that helps employers, HR and in house teams run credible, defensible employment investigations.

In our first episode, Mayer Brown partners Grace Shie and Morgan Bailey unpack the recent Presidential Proclamation suspending travel to the United States for citizens of certain countries. Grace and Morgan discuss what this "travel ban" means for international travelers, including the impact to employers and their mobile workforce.

In this episode of OPEN Talks, our diversity, equity and inclusion podcast series, we swap perspectives, with Miriam Bruce, Partner in the London Employment Group, interviewing Louise Fernandes-Owen, Global Knowledge Counsel for the Employment & Benefits Group, about Mayer Brown’s OPEN initiative.

Their conversation explores why we launched the initiative, what it entails and how it has developed – covering the challenges, surprises and highlights along the way.

This episode is intended to contribute to the continuing discussions around diversity, equity and inclusion and will appeal to employment lawyers, HR and DE&I professionals.

Captions are available on YouTube. Recorded 8 November 2024.

In this episode of OPEN Talks, our diversity, equity and inclusion podcast series, Louise Fernandes-Owen, Global PSL for the Employment & Benefits Group, meets Sarah Griffin, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Global Legal Function at HSBC. 

This episode is intended to contribute to the continuing discussions around diversity, equity and inclusion and will be of interest to HR and diversity, equity and inclusion professionals and in house counsel.

In this episode of OPEN Talks, our diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) podcast series, Louise Fernandes-Owen, Global PSL for the Employment & Benefits Group, interviews Amita Haylock, Partner in Mayer Brown’s Asia IP and TMT Group, about Mayer Brown’s collaboration with Women in Law Hong Kong: the Everyday Behaviour Project.

This episode is intended to contribute to the continuing discussions around DEI and will be of interest to HR and DEI professionals and in house counsel.

Captions are available on YouTube. Recorded 6 October 2023.

In this episode of OPEN Talks, our diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) podcast series, Louise Fernandes-Owen, Global PSL for the Employment & Benefits Group, interviews Pensions partner, Jay Doraisamy, Employment partner, Christopher Fisher and Pensions professional support lawyer, Katherine Carter about the new Pensions Regulator's Guidance on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

This episode is intended to contribute to the continuing discussions around DEI and will be of interest to HR and DEI professionals, in house counsel and pension trustees.

Captions are available on YouTube. Recorded 29 June 2023.