Julia M. Vander Weele
Julia Vander Weele, a partner with Spencer Fane, practices in the firm's Employee Benefits Group. She is also a member of the ERISA Litigation Group. Prior to joining Spencer Fane, Julia worked as in-house counsel for Fortis Benefits Insurance Company, where she managed ERISA litigation and advised senior management on other ERISA issues related to group disability, life, and dental products. She was also a Judicial Law Clerk for the 7th Judicial District of Iowa. Julia received her Bachelor of Arts degree, in Sociology, from the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts. She was awarded her Juris Doctor, with high distinction, from the University of Iowa College of Law, where she was Symposium Editor of the Journal of Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems. Julia is licensed to practice in Missouri and Kansas. Julia’s practice focuses on ERISA and other laws governing employee benefits, including matters affecting pension, profit sharing, 401(k), cafeteria plans, and welfare plans. She regularly advises clients, including multiemployer “Taft-Hartley” funds, large publicly-traded corporations, insurance companies, small privately-held employers, and boards of directors – on benefits issues such as plan design and administration, tax qualification, regulatory compliance, and fiduciary issues. She has had significant experience providing employer training on HIPAA and ERISA issues, and has had substantial involvement in matters dealing with retiree health coverage and bankruptcy. Her recent lecture topics have included COBRA, the HIPAA Privacy Rule, ERISA welfare plan compliance, and flexible spending accounts.
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