ERISA Counsel and Attorney-Client Privilege: Protecting Counsel Advice to Plan Fiduciaries

Recording of a 90-minute premium CLE webinar with Q&A

Conducted on Thursday, December 11, 2014

Recorded event now available

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Program Materials

This CLE webinar will examine recent rulings on the ERISA fiduciary exception to attorney-client privilege, the majority view and how some jurisdictions differ. The panel will explain best practices for preserving the privilege given conflicting court rulings on when the fiduciary exception applies and when it does not.

Description

Courts and ERISA plan fiduciaries and beneficiaries continue to grapple over the critical issue of whether a fiduciary exception applies to privileged communications between fiduciaries of ERISA-governed plans and their or the plan’s legal counsel.

In Sept. 2014, the Delaware Supreme Court adopted the fiduciary exception to the privilege where there is “good cause” to believe a breach of fiduciary duty occurred. Since more than half of all publicly traded companies are domiciled in Delaware, the ruling potentially has wide implications.

In June 2014, the Arizona Court of Appeals (Kipnis) adopted the fiduciary exception consistent with the Supreme Court’s Jicarilla decision—it applies to legal advice regarding trust administration but doesn’t when the fiduciary sought legal advice regarding non-administration issues, such as personal liability. The Ninth Circuit has upheld the fiduciary exception in an ERISA claim, while the Third Circuit hasn't.

The fiduciary exception issue remains in the murky waters of conflicting, nuanced and fact-intensive court rulings. So, counsel for fiduciaries must understand situations when the fiduciary exception may or may not apply through a complex analysis of jurisdiction, and content, timing and reason for the communication. Fiduciary counsel must guard against waiving the privilege by permitting third parties (accountants, plan representatives, etc.) to take part in discussions of legal advice.

Listen as our authoritative panel of ERISA attorneys analyzes the parameters of the fiduciary exception and provides approaches to preserve attorney-client privilege when communicating with plan fiduciaries, and explains how to assert and defend the privilege in litigation. The panel will offer lessons from recent rulings and arguments for and against the fiduciary exception to keep confidences protected.

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Outline

  1. Overview of program
  2. The attorney-client privilege
  3. Parameters of ERISA fiduciary exception
    1. Who is a fiduciary?
    2. Who is the client?
  4. Scope of fiduciary functions subject to the exception and limitations of exception
  5. Work product
  6. Recent court rulings on the ERISA fiduciary exception
  7. United States v. Jicarilla Apache Nation
  8. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. v. Indiana Electrical Workers Pension Trust Fund IBEW
  9. Best practices for preserving the privilege

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key issues:

  • What lessons do court rulings offer counsel in developing best practices and advising ERISA plan fiduciaries to protect communications with counsel?
  • In what circumstances can counsel clearly defend the privilege in fiduciary conduct and communications—and how can counsel navigate the grey areas?
  • How is work product distinguished from client communications—and how can counsel keep work product shielded from disclosure?

Faculty

Ronald S. Kravitz
Ronald S. Kravitz
Of Counsel
Shepherd Finkelman Miller & Shah

With more than 25 years of experience as legal counsel in complex business litigation matters, Mr. Kravitz’...  |  Read More

McElligott, James P.
James P. McElligott
Partner
McGuireWoods

Mr. McElligott advises and defends private and publicly held corporations, public agencies, benefit plans and...  |  Read More

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