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Employee benefit and employment law regulations after Loper Bright

In the US, the relationship between employers and employees is heavily regulated by statute at both the state and federal level, and the provision of employee benefits is also highly regulated, primarily at the federal level....more

DOL Final Rule 4.0 - Correcting the historical record

From the 2010 outset of its project to extend ERISA fiduciary status broadly to financial intermediaries, including insurance agents, the US Department of Labor (DOL) has consistently relied on the evolution of the private...more

Department of Labor’s final Fiduciary Rule 4.0

On April 23, 2024, the US Department of Labor (DOL) released its Final Rule 4.0 regarding ERISA fiduciary investment advice, including amended exemptions for conflicted investment advice. Our initial analysis of the Final...more

SECURE 2.0 in 2023 and beyond

President Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, on December 29, 2022, which includes the package of retirement plan legislation known as “SECURE 2.0.” SECURE 2.0 contains numerous significant changes for...more

Climate change applies to government too: DOL issues new final ESG regulations

On October 14, 2021, the US Department of Labor (DOL) proposed changes to ERISA regulations that would again shift the analysis of consideration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in retirement plans...more

IRS announces RMD-elay for new rules

​​​​​​​The IRS issued Notice 2022-53 on October 7, providing relief under the required minimum distribution (RMD) rules of Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). The Notice provides that excise taxes and tax...more

DOL’s proposed QPAM amendments may amount to an effective revocation of the exemption

In the guise of clarifications relating to criminal convictions and misconduct, the Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed major amendments to Prohibited Transaction Exemption (PTE) 84-14, also known as the QPAM exemption...more

Unlocking the process: Guide to ERISA individual prohibited transaction exemptions

Since 1996, the US Department of Labor granted more than 1,200 individual exemptions from the ERISA prohibited transaction rules. One of the distinctive features of ERISA is its prohibition, in ERISA section 406 as a...more

Proposed ERISA regulation may facilitate ESG in retirement plans

On October 14, 2021, the US Department of Labor (DOL) proposed changes to ERISA regulations that would again shift the analysis of consideration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in retirement plans...more

DOL extends temporary enforcement policy for conflicted fiduciaries, delays rollover enforcement

In Field Assistance Bulleting 2021-02, published on October 25, 2021, the US Department of Labor announced with respect to its Fiduciary Rule 3.0 that: ..The temporary ERISA enforcement policy for conflicted fiduciary...more

Significant, Proposed Limitations on IRA Investments Included in House Legislation

On September 27, 2021, the Build Back Better budget reconciliation legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives (the Legislation), which includes numerous revenue raisers and other tax-related changes. While...more

DOL Fiduciary Rule 3.0: The sprint to December 20

As businesses return to work after Labor Day 2021, a principal focus for companies that serve US retirement plans will be the impending December 20 enforcement date for the Labor Department’s (DOL) latest fiduciary guidance...more

GAO report illuminates DOL enforcement of ERISA

In a report released on May 27, 2021, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) published the results of a 15-month inquiry into the enforcement of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA)...more

Taking stock - Environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations

ESG will be front and center in the SEC’s 2021 agenda. Our ESG Matrix can help establish a baseline for compliance by SEC-regulated funds, investment advisers, private funds and insurance companies. The Matrix covers...more

DOL warns the ERISA fiduciary debate is far from over

In a troubling development, the US Department of Labor (DOL) has announced its expectation that it will proceed to propose yet another iteration of investment advice guidance under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act...more

Courts weigh in on participant data under ERISA

A district court decision in March has added to the sparse authority regarding the status of participant data under ERISA, particularly whether recordkeepers or other providers can use that data to offer additional products...more

2020 in review – ERISA guidance

In 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL), in its guidance issued under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), remained principally focused on the development of its Fiduciary Rule 3.0 and...more

2020 in review - ERISA enforcement

The US Department of Labor (DOL) has published its Fiscal Year 2020 “Fact Sheet” documenting the criminal and civil enforcement activities of its Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) under the Employee Retirement...more

DOL proposes to formalize its ERISA guidance on ESG investing

On June 30, 2020, the US Department of Labor (DOL) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule that would regulate ERISA plan fiduciary conduct when considering investments under an environmental, social and governance...more

DOL issues RFI on a possible ERISA class exemption for PEP/MEP plans

On June 18, 2020, the US Department of Labor (DOL) published a request for information (RFI), in advance of its potential proposal of a class exemption (PTE) providing relief for ERISA prohibited transactions arising in the...more

DOL open to innovative investments bringing private equities into defined contribution plans

On June 3, 2020, the US Department of Labor (DOL) issued an Information Letter reassuring plan fiduciaries that in appropriate circumstances, a professionally managed fund that contains a private equity component may be...more

The emerging patchwork of fiduciary investment advice regulation – Putting the pieces together (update)

As anticipated, 2020 has seen a number of fiduciary and best interest advice regulations advance at both the federal and state levels. Firms subject to these regulations face challenges in dealing with rules that impose a...more

Videocast: Asset management regulation in 2020 videocast series – DOL: What’s ahead [Video]

Over the next year, the Department of Labor (DOL) will likely be issuing guidance in a number of areas that could impact asset managers and financial services companies. In this Bottom Line videocast, Carol McClarnon and...more

2019 in review - ERISA guidance

In 2019, the Department of Labor (DOL) continued its trend of providing limited advance guidance under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA). By volume, the amount of 2019 guidance...more

Congress delivers SECURE and more in year-end benefits bonanza

On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed into law the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (the “Appropriations Act”), a comprehensive government funding bill that includes substantial employee benefits-related...more

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