Biography

Chris is a problem-solver and employee benefits "generalist" who advises clients on a range of pension, executive compensation, and welfare benefit plan issues, but maintains a focus on assisting clients with health care reform compliance, negotiation of administrative services agreements, and the operation of consumer-driven health care arrangements such as health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible spending accounts (FSAs), and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs). Chris also has significant experience in the correction of retirement plan qualification failures, defending IRS audit and DOL investigations, and winding down plan administered by bankrupt entities.

As a member of the firm’s ERISA litigation practice, Chris defends fiduciary breach claims and claims for benefits under both pension and welfare benefit plans.

Chris lives at the cutting edge of new regulatory requirements concerning fiduciary governance for health and welfare benefit plans and the group health plan transparency requirements under the Transparency in Coverage final rule and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. He also works extensively with client to address compliance concerns that arise when implementing healthcare point solutions that offer tools to address diabetes management, fertility, and medical travel, among other things.

Prior to joining Verrill, Chris served as a law clerk in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and, while in law school, worked full-time at a multinational securities brokerage firm. These experiences helped shape the pragmatism Chris brings to his practice and to his clients.

A Maine native, Chris enjoys nature and the outdoors. During his time away from the office he can be found exploring the wilds of Maine, hiking, canoeing, fishing, and paddle-boarding with his family and friends.

Services/Industries

Education

  • Duquesne University Law School  (J.D., cum laude)
  • Allegheny College  (B.A., cum laude)

Public Service

  • Board of Directors, Healthcare Purchaser Alliance of Maine (formerly the Maine Health Management Coalition)

Bar Admissions

  • Maine
  • Pennsylvania

Memberships

  • New England Employee Benefits Council
  • Maine Employee Benefits Council
  • American Bar Association, Joint Committee on Employee Benefits (JCEB)

Honors

  • Gerald K. Gibson Memorial Award
  • Susan H. Wilkie Professional Responsibility and Ethics Award
  • Recognized in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business under Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
  • Received Katahdin Counsel Recognition for pro bono efforts (2016)
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in New England Super Lawyers© under Employee Benefits

To learn more about third-party ratings and rankings, and the selection processes used for inclusion, click here.

Clerkships

  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court - Western District of Pennsylvania, Honorable Jeffery A. Deller

Court and Other Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the District of Maine
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Firm Highlights

Blog

HIPAA Privacy Rule Changes: Just in time for the New Year?

In 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed changes to the Privacy Rule under the Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act of 1996 (HIPAA) that would significantly alter the current regulations...

Blog

Retiree Medical Coverage: Just Get the COBRA Waiver

The interaction between employer-provided retiree medical coverage and COBRA [1] is complex. Many employers incorrectly assume they do not have to offer COBRA at retirement if they offer a retiree medical plan or a...

Blog

Catch-Up Contributions: IRS Provides Relief from Roth Requirements of SECURE 2.0

On August 25, 2023, the IRS issued IRS Notice 2023-62 , providing much needed relief for employers who have been struggling to implement Section 603 of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (“SECURE 2.0&rdquo...

Blog

The Department of Labor Proposes Its New Fiduciary Rule

On October 31, 2023, the Department of Labor published a new proposed regulation (the “ Proposed Rule ”) defining “investment advice” for purposes of determining when someone advising an ERISA plan or participant or...

News

30 Verrill Attorneys, Across Four Offices, Recognized in 2023 Chambers & Partners Guide

Publication/Podcast

Establishing Practices and Procedures to Support Retirement Plan Self-Correction

The opportunity to self-correct mistakes in maintaining a retirement plan has been dramatically expanded by the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (“SECURE 2.0”); see our February 10 blog post for details. However, IRS interim...

Blog

Maine’s Mandatory Retirement Savings Program: What Employers Need to Know

On October 18, 2023, the Maine Retirement Savings Board adopted a final rule implementing Maine’s state-run retirement savings program, the Maine Retirement Investment Trust or MERIT. MERIT is intended to help employees who do...

Blog

Use of Retirement Plan Forfeitures: The IRS Proposed Regulations, Recent Litigation, and the DOL’s Position

In five recently filed class action lawsuits, [1] 401(k) plan participants allege that plan fiduciaries violated ERISA by using plan forfeitures to offset employer contributions instead of paying plan expenses. The use of forfeitures...

Blog

DOL Continues Enforcement of Non-Quantitative Treatment Limitation Requirements

Introduction : Fifteen months ago, we wrote that the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) had informed Congress that it intended to devote substantial resources to enforcing the new comparative analysis requirement for non-quantitative treatment...

Matter

Advised Fortune 500 Company on Group Health and Welfare Benefit Plans

We were engaged by a Fortune 500 manufacturing company to provide legal and compliance services regarding its group health and welfare benefit plans. During the course of our representation, we have advised the company...

Contact Verrill at (855) 307 0700