Miguel Eaton guides clients through complex employee benefits issues that present significant business challenges. He began his career litigating Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and other issues and grew his practice to include counseling on benefits issues in M&A, cyber, executive compensation, and bankruptcy. He co-chairs the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice.
A significant portion of Miguel's practice involves defending ERISA class actions (e.g., 401(k) fee cases) and litigating on behalf of employers that contribute to multiemployer plans. He also advises benefit committees regarding participants' claims and defends companies being investigated by the Department of Labor.
Miguel speaks frequently on benefits issues, including at the American Bar Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and has been a Senior Lecturing Fellow at Duke Law.
Miguel serves various firmwide and office roles: he leads the Firm's veterans initiative (VetLex); is a member of the firmwide Diversity, Inclusion and Advancement Committee; and the Washington Office's Recruiting Committee. He also co-chairs the office's Diversity Committee. Miguel serves on the boards of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, Duke Law Board of Visitors, and the Catholic Charities Legal Network.
He was a two-sport college athlete. He played in the 1994 NCAA basketball tournament and is the 1996 National Collegiate Boxing Association National Champion (Heavyweight).
Expérience
Autres publications
- September 10, 2021
Diversity & Inclusion in Business Development: 5 Lessons Learned
- March 27-29, 2019
2019 Leadership Institute for Women of Color Attorneys Conference - January 7-8, 2019
All About the Benefits: An Introduction To ERISA and Employee Benefits, Duke Law School - November 16, 2018
The Evolving Landscape of Multiemployer Plans, American Conference Institute - October 11, 2018
ERISA Ethical Issues and Concerns - October 11, 2018
ABA JCEB ERISA Basics National Institute: ERISA Preemption - May 1, 2018
Jones Day's Media Labor & Employment Law Roundtable - January 7 - 8, 2016
All About the Benefits: An Introduction to ERISA and Employee Benefits, Duke Law School Wintersession - May 2017
Class Action Litigation Strategies - ERISA's Statute of Limitations, Advanced ERISA Litigation National Institute - January 4 - 5, 2017
All About The Benefits: An Introduction to ERISA and Employee Benefits, Duke University School of Law - March 24, 2016
Worldwide Employee Benefits Network - Cleveland Chapter: Litigation Update - October 1, 2015
The Detroit Bankruptcy - Employee Benefits Consultants Forum, Gaylord Resort and Convention Center - February 8, 2014
Sweet (ERISA) Mystery of Life (Insurance), ABA Midwinter Conference - February 21, 2013
Benefit Claims Update - Standard of Review, Discretionary Authority and Conflict Discovery, ABA Employee Benefits Midwinter Conference - November 1, 2012
Is Your Executive Compensation Agreement Covered by ERISA?, ABA Labor and Employment Law Conference - September 20, 2012
Expert's Guide to Employee Benefits Research, ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits - February 16, 2012
Multiemployer Plans and Funding Issues, ABA Employee Benefits Committee Midwinter Conference - February 18, 2011
Update on Fee Litigation and the Impact of the Regulations, ABA Employee Benefits Committee Midwinter Conference
- Duke University (J.D. 2006); United States Naval Academy, Annapolis (B.S., Mechanical Engineering 1996)
- District of Columbia, Court of Appeals of Maryland, and U.S. District Courts for the District of Maryland and District of Columbia
- United States Marine Corps (2003-2004 and 1996-2002)
- Recognized by Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers (2021-2024), which list includes the top 100 Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation professionals
- Law Clerk to the Honorable James C. Dever III, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina (2006-2007)
- Spanish