Christine Hwang joins Jones Day as partner in Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice in San Francisco

Christine Hwang has joined the Firm as a partner in the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice. She is based in the San Francisco Office.

Ms. Hwang represents employee health and welfare plans and defined benefit pension plans, advising them on a wide range of ERISA compliance issues—including ACA, ERISA, COBRA, and HIPAA—and various participant issues. She also has significant experience representing welfare and pension plans in benefit claims litigation, and the prosecution of all stages of collection arbitration and litigation.

"Chris is nationally respected as a leading voice on issues related to welfare and pension benefit plans," said Miguel Eaton, co-leader of the Firm's Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice. "In particular, her experience with ACA, HIPAA, and other ERISA compliance issues will be valuable to our clients navigating complex regulatory requirements at the federal and state levels. We are thrilled that she has chosen to join Jones Day."

Ms. Hwang joins a team of more than 40 benefits lawyers worldwide who advise clients on complex benefits and executive compensation issues in matters such as sophisticated M&A deals, private equity transactions, business restructuring, ERISA litigation, plan counseling, and investment. She will work alongside these colleagues to provide legal counsel that addresses clients' employee benefits concerns with innovative strategies that preserve flexibility and minimize risks.

"Chris is a highly accomplished lawyer in private practice and she brings a rich perspective that informs her administration of employee benefit plans in a way that is both practical and fully compliant with applicable laws and regulations," said Aaron Agenbroad, Partner-in-Charge of the San Francisco Office. "I am pleased to welcome her to our office here in San Francisco and look forward to her contributions."

"Jones Day brings a truly multidisciplinary team approach, in which their employee benefits lawyers collaborate with each other to counsel clients on high-stakes matters, including withdrawal liability from multiemployer pension plans and breach of fiduciary duty claims," said Ms. Hwang. "I am excited to join Jones Day in San Francisco and to work on some of the largest and most significant legal matters in this important area of practice."

Ms. Hwang was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Labor for a three-year term (2014-2016) to serve on the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans. She earned her law degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco and her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College. Ms. Hwang is a member of the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans and the American Health Law Association.