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    1. Home
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    3. Lena GionnettePeople

    Lena Gionnette

    Counsel


    • Rochester
    • Office585.263.1669
    • lgionnette@nixonpeabody.com
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    Introduction

    Lena focuses her practice on creating, reviewing, and implementing benefit programs designed to meet the needs of for-profit and nonprofit entities of all sizes.

    Practice Areas

    Labor & EmploymentEmployee Benefits & ERISA

    My focus

    In today’s competitive workforce, employee benefit plans are an efficient tool for attracting and retaining talent. I help employers navigate the complex and evolving legal landscape surrounding benefit plans to ensure that their offerings are well designed and properly maintained.

    I regularly advise employers, executives, and third-party administrators on a wide range of issues relating to defined contribution and defined benefit plans, church plans, non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements, health and welfare plans, and fringe benefits.

    I assist with day-to-day plan administration issues, and I’m heavily involved in drafting plan documents, amendments, required notices, and participant communications. I also help resolve plan errors under the IRS and DOL correction programs, and guide clients through governmental audits. In addition, I counsel clients on benefits issues in connection with their corporate transactions.

    Looking ahead

    SECURE 2.0’s slate of plan enhancements gives employers meaningful tools to engage their employees in saving for retirement. Employers should consult with their plan advisors and service providers to decide how best to implement these offerings.

    Insights

    • “Group Health Plan Coverage of Medical Marijuana,” American Bar Association 2023 Midyear Tax Meeting, San Diego, CA, February 10, 2023
    • “New Compliance Challenges for Employer Health Plans,” Nixon Peabody CLE program, April 2022
    • “Troubleshooting COVID-19 Issues,” Plan Consultant, American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries, October 15, 2021

    Admitted to practice

    Michigan
    Ohio

    Education

    University of Cincinnati College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude; Articles editor, University of Cincinnati Law Review
    University of Michigan, B.A., English, History, and Modern Greek

    Professional activities

    • Co-Vice Chair, Subcommittee on Welfare Plans, American Bar Association Section of Taxation
    • Past Chair, Employee Benefits Committee, State Bar of Michigan Taxation Section

    Languages

    Greek

    In the News

    • Crain’s Chicago Business

      People on the move

      The following article highlights notable legal industry moves across Chicago and New York include the recent promotions of Chicago Intellectual Property counsel George Dandalides, Complex Disputes counsels Christie Kurow of Chicago and Eric Ferrante of Rochester; Project Finance & Public Finance counsels Gretchen Sherwood of Chicago and Terance Walsh of Rochester; Healthcare counsels Michal Cantor of Long Island and Jéna Grady of New York City; and Rochester Corporate counsel Lena Gionnette. The Crain’s Chicago Business article also includes the arrival of Chicago Corporate associate Kelly Glynn to the firm.

      March 6, 2023
    • Crain’s New York Business

      People on the move

      The following article highlights notable legal industry moves across Chicago and New York include the recent promotions of Chicago Intellectual Property counsel George Dandalides, Complex Disputes counsels Christie Kurow of Chicago and Eric Ferrante of Rochester; Project Finance & Public Finance counsels Gretchen Sherwood of Chicago and Terance Walsh of Rochester; Healthcare counsels Michal Cantor of Long Island and Jéna Grady of New York City; and Rochester Corporate counsel Lena Gionnette. The Crain’s Chicago Business article also includes the arrival of Chicago Corporate associate Kelly Glynn to the firm.

      March 6, 2023
    • New York Law Journal

      Attorneys on the move

      The following article highlights notable legal industry moves across Chicago and New York include the recent promotions of Chicago Intellectual Property counsel George Dandalides, Complex Disputes counsels Christie Kurow of Chicago and Eric Ferrante of Rochester; Project Finance & Public Finance counsels Gretchen Sherwood of Chicago and Terance Walsh of Rochester; Healthcare counsels Michal Cantor of Long Island and Jéna Grady of New York City; and Rochester Corporate counsel Lena Gionnette. The Crain’s Chicago Business article also includes the arrival of Chicago Corporate associate Kelly Glynn to the firm.

      March 3, 2023
    • Employee Benefit Plan Review

      Ask the Experts: Defined contribution plan amendments and telemedicine coverage

      In the latest installment of their “Ask the Experts” column, Corporate partners Damian Myers in Washington, DC and Yelena Gray in Chicago, and associate Lena Gionnette in Rochester—all of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team—discuss the legal changes that necessitate amendments to defined contribution plans, along with the extension of telemedicine coverage in 2022.
      April 26, 2022
    • Employee Benefit Plan Review

      Ask the Experts

      In the newest installment of their monthly “Ask the Experts” column, Chicago partner Yelena Gray, Washington, DC partner Damian Myers, and Rochester associate Lena Gionnette, all from the Corporate group and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, expand on the new requirements for group health plans regarding direct and indirect compensation disclosure, as well as the importance of plan committees engaging an investment advisor for retirement plans.
      March 1, 2022
    • Employee Benefits Plan Review

      Ask the experts

      In the newest installment of their Ask the Experts” column, Chicago partner Yelena Gray, Washington, DC partner Damian Myers, and Rochester associate Lena Gionnette, all from the Corporate group and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, discuss the competitive bid process that benefit plan administrators should routinely conduct to evaluate service providers, along with the deficient COBRA election notices that are fueling an uptick in litigation.
      Feb 8, 2022
    • Employee Benefit Plan Review

      Ask the experts: COVID-19 coverage requirements; changes to the EPCRS program

      In the newest installment of their monthly “Ask the experts” column, Chicago partner Yelena Gray, Washington, DC partner Damian Myers, and Rochester associate Lena Gionnette, all of the Corporate group and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, describe several requirements related to COVID-19 that still apply to group health plans, along with recent changes to the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System for correcting retirement plan administrative errors.
      Jan 1, 2022
    • Employee Benefit Plan Review

      Ask the experts

      In the newest installment of their monthly “Ask the Experts” column, Chicago partner Yelena Gray, Washington, DC partner Damian Myers, and Rochester associate Lena Gionnette, all from the Corporate group and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, outline the legal considerations for employers implementing COVID-19 vaccine incentives or surcharges; new fee disclosure requirements for health and welfare plan brokers; and best practices for plan sponsors when restating their pre-approved documents to the IRS.
      Nov 1, 2021
    • Employee Benefit Plan Review

      Ask the Experts - Price transparency rules

      In the newest installment of their monthly “Ask the Experts” column, Chicago partner Yelena Gray, Washington, DC partner Damian Myers, and Rochester associate Lena Gionnette, all from the Corporate group and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, outline the patchwork of new requirements aimed at increasing health care cost transparency and providing best practices for group health plan sponsors to ensure compliance with the rules.
      Oct 8, 2021
    • Employee Benefit Plan Review

      Ask the experts

      In the newest installment of their monthly “Ask the experts” column, Chicago partner Yelena Gray, Washington, DC partner Damian Myers, and Rochester associate Lena Gionnnette, all in the Corporate group and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, analyze the Department of Labor’s recent cybersecurity guidance and provide best practices for retirement plans.
      Aug 20, 2021
    • Employee Benefits Plan Review

      Ask the experts

      Chicago partner Yelena Gray, Washington, D.C. partner Damian Myers, and Rochester associate Lena Gionnnette, all with the Corporate group and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, contributed this column addressing various questions about health benefit coverage, including parity requirements for mental health and medical benefits, in addition to the application of continuing “COBRA” benefits for former employees.
      July 27, 2021
    • Employee Benefit Plan Review

      New law requires health plans to demonstrate compliance with parity requirements between mental health and medical benefits

      Chicago partner Yelena Gray, Washington DC partner Damian Myers, and Rochester associate Lena Gionnette, all of the Corporate group, contributed this article analyzing the new federal laws requiring employer-sponsored group health plans to prove that their plans satisfy all aspects of the parity regulations between mental health and medical benefits.
      June 10, 2021
    • Rochester Business Journal

      What employers need to know about the new COBRA subsidy

      Rochester Corporate partner Brian Kopp and associate Lena Gionnette contributed this article analyzing the new COBRA subsidy, as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and the challenges it will pose to employers.
      May 7, 2021
    • Journal of Compensation and Benefits

      Stimulus legislation gives temporary relief under flexible spending arrangements

      Washington, DC partner Damian Myers, Chicago partner Yelena Gray, and Rochester associate Lena Gionnette, all of the Corporate group and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, contributed this article summarizing the temporary relief for flexible spending accounts in the December 2020 stimulus law, highlighting important takeaways for plan sponsors.
      March 12, 2021
    • HR News

      Number of 401(k) Funds Offered to Plan Participants Shrinks

      This article on the shrinking number of funds offered to 401(k) plan participants quotes a recent Fall Employee Benefits Briefing blog post written by Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation leader and Corporate partner Eric Paley, Corporate partners Christian Hancey and Brian Kopp, and Corporate associates Lena Gionnette and Jenny Holmes, all in Rochester; and Washington, D.C. Corporate counsel Damian Myers.
      Dec 1, 2020

    Insights And Happenings

    View All
    • Article

      SECURE ACT 2.0 – Next steps for plan sponsors

      March 2, 2023
    • Video

      Fall 2022 Employee Benefits Briefing

      Employee Benefits & ERISA
      Dec 16, 2022
    • Video

      Spring 2022 employee benefits briefing

      May 10, 2022
    View All

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