Seyfarth Shaw LLP announced the arrival of partner James R. Napoli to the firm’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice in Washington, aD.C. Napoli joins Seyfarth from Constangy, Brooks & Smith LLP, where he was co-chair of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) practice group in Washington, D.C.

For more than 20 years, Napoli has counseled employers on all aspects of their employee benefit programs, including health care reform implementation and litigation, ERISA litigation, and all matters affecting tax-qualified retirement plans. His practice also focuses on advising businesses on executive compensation plans, group health plan issues, and on a variety of high level matters related to employee benefit program design, implementation and administration. Napoli has handled numerous retiree medical issues, including multi-billion dollar matters, for employers within the automotive manufacturing, entertainment, steel, hospitality, medical, and transportation industries.

“Jim is a well-known health and welfare expert and will be a great addition to our employee benefits team nationwide,” said Robert Flanagan, chair of Seyfarth’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice. “As employers continue to navigate the regulations stemming from the Affordable Care Act for years to come, Jim will be a trusted advisor on a multitude of health benefits compliance matters.”

Napoli also has experience litigating matters involving claims to benefits and breach of fiduciary duty under ERISA as well as related claims. In addition, he negotiates investment management agreements, administrative services agreements, and several other forms of agreements that create relationships between employers, service providers, and ERISA plans. He has also defended clients in cases and audits brought by the Department of Labor, Department of Justice, Internal Revenue Service, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

“Jim is an accomplished, high quality lawyer whose skills will be a huge complement to our comprehensive services in Washington,” said Robert Bodansky, managing partner of Seyfarth’s Washington, D.C. office.

A frequent writer and speaker on employee benefit matters, Napoli has participated in a series of webinars and lectures on health care reform and is a member of the Health and Welfare Task Force of the American Benefits Council, the Employee Benefits Committee of the Labor Section of the American Bar Association and the Steering Committee for the Healthcare Reform Center and Policy Institute, among others. He received his J.D. from the University Of Akron School Of Law and earned his B.A. at Cleveland State University.