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Brian T. Ortelere

Partner

Brian T. Ortelere defends employee benefits litigation, including Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) class actions. Co-chair of the ERISA litigation practice, he litigates class action claims challenging the administration of 401(k) plans, cash balance plans, and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). With his victory in Renfro v. Unisys, Brian became the first US lawyer to defeat “401(k) excessive fee” claims on a motion to dismiss and to successfully defend the judgment in the US Court of Appeals. Brian is ranked among the top three ERISA litigators in the nation according to Chambers & Partners.

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    Extended Profile

    Brian also successfully tried the Unisys Savings Plan matter, the first application of ERISA section 404(c) at trial.

    He frequently speaks on benefits topics and ERISA litigation at legal conferences and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

    Education

    • College of William & Mary, 1986, J.D.
    • Muhlenberg College, 1983, A.B.

    Admissions

    • Pennsylvania
    • New York
    • Supreme Court of the United States
    • US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
    • US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
    • US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
    • US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
    • US District Court for the Southern District of New York

    Clerkships

    • Law Clerk to Judge William Hutchinson of the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (1987 - 1988)

    Awards and Affiliations

    Member, Practice Group of the Year, Employment, Law360 (2017, 2019)

    Band 1, ERISA Litigation, Nationwide, Chambers USA (2018–2020)

    Ranked, Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2006–2016, 2018)

    Hall of Fame, Labor and employment - ERISA litigation, The Legal 500 US (2020)

    Recommended, Labor and employment - ERISA litigation, The Legal 500 US (2012–2014, 2016–2019)

    Lawyer of the Year, Litigation – ERISA, Philadelphia, The Best Lawyers in America (2020)

    Recognized, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Philadelphia; Litigation – ERISA, Philadelphia, The Best Lawyers in America (2005–2011, 2017–2020)

    Recognized, Who’s Who Legal (2016)

    Recognized, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (2004–2010)

    Recognized, Dispute Resolution, PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook 2008

    Member, Advisory Board of BNA's ERISA Compliance & Enforcement Library

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