William D. Jewett

        Partner
        Contact Info
        William D. Jewett William D. Jewett

        Bill maintains a sophisticated employee benefits and executive compensation practice advising employers of all sizes on a wide variety of benefits and compensation plan design and legal compliance matters. Bill regularly advises on deferred compensation arrangements for both taxable and tax-exempt clients. Bill also assists clients in mergers and acquisitions.

        Bill has extensive experience working with pension plan investments, including compliance work for asset managers. A thought leader on ERISA compliance matters, he has focused his ERISA practice on fiduciary and prohibited transaction issues, as well as advising clients on investment management agreements, derivatives, securities lending, prime brokerage arrangements, and financial products such as stable value funds.

        Bill works collaboratively with clients to identify and assess risks and opportunities and enjoys explaining legal issues and strategies for handling them in a practical, understandable way.

        Prior to joining Verrill, Bill was a partner at a global law firm, where he worked with a wide range of clients on ERISA, employee benefits and executive compensation issues. Before embarking on a legal career, Bill was an associate professor in the English Department at Yale University.

        Services/Industries

        Education

        • Yale Law School (J.D.)
        • Yale University (Ph.D., M.Phil.)
        • Yale College (B.A.)

        Bar Admissions

        • Massachusetts

        Honors

        • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® under Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law in Boston, Massachusetts (2015-2021, 2026-2027)
        • Listed in the Legal 500 (2016, 2018)

        Learn more about the third-party ratings, rankings, and selection processes used for inclusion.

        Firm Highlights

        Alerts and Newsletters

        Can AI Pass the Doctor Test? FDA Considers Physician-Inspired Evaluation of GenAI Devices and Other Regulatory Measures

        AI is entering healthcare with indomitable will. It promises to increase efficiency, reduce administrative burden (which healthcare providers so...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Attorney Annabel Rodriguez Named Top Women of Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

        BOSTON, Massachusetts – Verrill attorney Annabel Rodriguez has been recognized as a Top Women of Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, and will be...
        Blog

        What Employee Benefits Lawyers Do (and How to Make the Best Use of Us)

        What do employee benefits lawyers do all day and how can clients make the best use of them? This post offers an overview of the kinds of things...
        Media Mentions

        Bloomberg Law Quotes Robert Keach on Expanded Access to Small Business Reorganization

        Verrill attorney Bob Keach was recently featured in Bloomberg Law, discussing legislation that would raise debt limits for bankruptcy relief and...
        Blog

        Phil Bartlett to Step Down as Chair of the Maine Public Utilities Commission

        On September 15, 2026, Governor Janet Mills announced that Phil Bartlett will step down as Chair of the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC)...
        Published Works

        Jay McCormack and Michael Fee Co-Author AHLA Article on Skin Substitute Enforcement Trends

        Verrill Partners Jay McCormack and Michael Fee co-authored an article for the American Health Law Association's Fraud and Abuse Practice Group...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Health Care & Life Sciences Attorney Elpida Velmahos

        BOSTON, Massachusetts – Verrill is pleased to announce that Elpida Velmahos has joined the firm’s Health Care & Life Sciences Group as an...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Litigation & Trial Attorney Emma Pooler

        PORTLAND, Maine – Verrill is pleased to announce that Emma Pooler has joined the firm’s Litigation & Trial Group as an Associate, resident in...
        Published Works

        Four Verrill Attorneys Co-Author Massachusetts Trends and Developments Chapter for Chambers and Partners Child Relocation 2026 Guide

        Verrill attorneys Mary H. Schmidt, Rachel A. Deering, Hannah R. Zukoff, and Mariah G. Tappan co-authored the “Trends and Developments” chapter...
        Blog

        A New Protected Class in Maine: Holders of Final Protection Orders

        In the lead-up to Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, employers may be taking a closer look at how their policies and practices respond to...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        Verrill Secures SJC Victory for Boston Legacy FC in White Stadium Litigation

        Verrill has secured a significant appellate victory for Boston Legacy FC in the litigation challenging the redevelopment of White Stadium in...
        Blog

        Hurry Up and Wait

        This is the third in a series of Verrill blog posts on Maine’s packaging extended producer responsibility (“EPR”) law[1]. In July we reported...