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    1. Home
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    3. Ian TaylorPeople
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    3. Ian TaylorPeople

    Ian Taylor

    Partner


    • Washington, DC
    • Office202.585.8077
    • itaylor@nixonpeabody.com
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    Introduction

    Ian represents companies, executives, and fiduciaries in connection with Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) litigation, employee benefits and executive compensation matters, class actions, and other commercial disputes. Trained as a trial lawyer, Ian has focused almost exclusively on employee benefits related litigation for the past 15 years.

    Practice Areas

    ERISA LitigationLitigationLabor & EmploymentLabor & Employment LitigationEmployee Benefits & ERISAExecutive CompensationComplex DisputesClass Actions & Aggregate Litigation

    My focus

    I focus my practice on ERISA litigation. With broad experience in this area, I help defend plans, fiduciaries, and companies against claims of breach of fiduciary duty, vesting and funding violation disputes, withdrawal liability disputes, and disputes regarding welfare and pension benefits. I also counsel companies on plan interpretation, amendment, and benefit claims administration. I have first and second chair experience in litigation involving class actions, non-compete agreements, and executive compensation arrangements. I evaluate and defend liability claims under complex legacy benefit programs and litigate complex business cases.

    My experience spans a wide range of industries, and I regularly represent employers in litigation in state and federal courts and before state and federal administrative agencies. My experience allows me to counsel employers regarding their obligations and potential exposure under the state and federal employment statutes.

    Looking ahead

    Courts continue to lower the bar for Plaintiffs’ lawyers to avoid dismissal of putative ERISA class actions. Further, Plaintiffs’ lawyers continue to test novel theories regarding ERISA’s fiduciary duties of prudence and loyalty. I expect the trend of ERISA class action filings will continue and possibly increase over the next few years.

    Insights

    • “Top Five 401(k) Plan Administration Issues That Are Litigated in ERISA Class Actions,” Nixon Peabody 2023 California MCLE Virtual Seminar, January 19, 2023
    • “Abrogation of The Jury’s Traditional Role in Determining Punitive Damages,” 58 Maryland Law Review, 1067

    Representative experience

    The below representative experience includes representations from a prior firm.

    • Kistler, et al. v. Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (D. Conn.). Defending Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. against ERISA breach of fiduciary putative class action.
    • Brookings, et al. v. Northeastern University (D. Mass). Defending Northeastern University against ERISA breach of fiduciary putative class action.
    • Represented one of the largest private universities in an eight-day trial in the Southern District of New York in a case alleging breaches of ERISA fiduciary duties; obtained a defense judgment on all counts
    • Obtained dismissal of a putative ERISA class action brought in the Southern District of New York
    • Obtained dismissal of a putative ERISA class action regarding allegedly defective COBRA notices
    • Represented U.S. Steel in a putative class action in the Court of Common Pleas, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
    • Obtained denial of class certification on behalf of Marriott International, Inc. in putative ERISA class action
    • Obtained dismissal with prejudice of a putative ERISA class action on behalf of a global telecommunications company
    • Obtained partial dismissal on behalf of a consulting company
    • Represented a plan committee of a publicly traded company in connection with claims of breach of fiduciary duty relating to employer stock
    • Represented a global biotechnology tools company in an American Arbitration Association (AAA) proceeding regarding executive benefits
    • Represented a privately owned investment manager in relation to withdrawals from multiemployer plans
    • Represented MGM Mirage and Mandalay Resort Group in four cases involving termination of a supplemental executive retirement plan
    • Represented Whirlpool Corporation in litigation regarding disability pension plan claims
    • Represented Global Health Services and related insured and self-funded life and accident, medical, and disability plans in more than 50 cases in state and federal courts

    Clerkships

    • United States District Court for the District of Maryland, The Honorable Jillyn K. Schulze

    Admitted to practice

    District of Columbia
    Maryland

    Education

    St. Mary’s College of Maryland, B.A.
    University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., Maryland Law Review, Moot Court Team, with Honors

    Professional activities

    • American Bar Association
    • Anne Arundel County Bar Association
    • District of Columbia Bar
    • Maryland Bar Association

    Recognition

    Ian was selected, through a peer-review survey, for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 in the field of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law.

    Ian was named to The Daily Record’s Very Important Professionals (VIP) List and selected by his peers as a Maryland Super Lawyer Rising Star. He was a panelist and presenter at the American Conference Institute’s 11th Annual National Forum on ERISA Litigation.

    In the News

    • Law.com

      Compliance hot spots - Notable moves

      The following article highlights the arrival of Washington, DC Labor &Employment partners Jennifer Squillario and Ian Taylor, who focus their practices on ERISA litigation.
      June 1, 2022
    • Law360

      Nixon Peabody adds two labor attorneys from DLA Piper

      The following article highlights the arrival of Washington, DC Labor & Employment partners Jennifer Squillario and Ian Taylor, who focus their practices on ERISA litigation.
      May 31, 2022
    • Reuters Legal

      The daily docket - Industry moves

      The following article highlights the arrival of Washington, DC Labor & Employment partners Jennifer Squillario and Ian Taylor, who focus their practices on ERISA litigation.
      May 26, 2022
    • Bloomberg Law

      Wake up call

      This roundup of notable legal industry news and attorney moves mentions the arrival of Labor and Employment partners Jennifer Squillario and Ian Taylor to the Washington, DC office. The article mentions that Jen and Ian focus their practices on ERISA litigation.
      May 25, 2022

    Professionals in the Practice Area

    View All
    • Charles M. Dyke

      Partner / Leader, ERISA Litigation Practice
      • San Francisco
      • Office:415.984.8315
      • cdyke@nixonpeabody.com
      Charles M. Dyke
    • Jen Squillario

      Partner
      • Washington DC
      • Office:202.585.8078
      • jsquillario@nixonpeabody.com
      Jen Squillario
    • Dawn N. Valentine

      Counsel
      • San Francisco
      • Office:415.984.8474
      • dvalentine@nixonpeabody.com
      Dawn N. Valentine
    • Myra A. Benjamin

      Associate
      • Washington DC
      • Office:202.585.8738
      • mbenjamin@nixonpeabody.com
    • Stephen J. Jones

      Partner / Co-Leader, Wage & Hour Compliance and Litigation Team
      • Rochester
      • Office:585.263.1386
        Mobile:585.281.5880
      • sjones@nixonpeabody.com
      Stephen J. Jones
    View All

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