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Sherrie Boutwell

  Sherrie Boutwell

Even in law school, Sherrie became excited about the evolving area of employee benefits. To Sherrie, it’s about collaboratively working with clients to find the best solutions to their employee benefit challenges. Since 1983, Sherrie has focused her law practice and ongoing education on finding solutions in this ever-changing and complex area of today’s employee benefit challenges.

 

She enjoys unraveling the mysteries of ERISA with her clients with a clear focus on truly understanding each client’s issues while carefully and clearly defining the best options for each situation.

Sherrie has represented clients before the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, arbitrators from the American Arbitration Association and the United States District Court, with respect to employee benefits issues. 

With an emphasis on retirement and deferred compensation plans, Sherrie advises and counsels a broad range of clients including employers, employees, plan fiduciaries, financial institutions, government agencies and trade associations, on a wide array of employee benefits matters. Sherrie has extensive experience and is a highly sought-after speaker, writer, and advisor on employee benefits topics. 

Sherrie takes pride in bringing a practical and down-to-earth approach to resolving complex benefits issues involving qualified plans, non-qualified plans and health and welfare plans. 

Representative Speeches and Publications

 “Navigating Health and Wellness Benefits through Mergers & Acquisitions.” Boutwell, Sherrie and Veldkamp, Katrina. International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, April 2024 

“2024 Annual Legislative & Regulatory Update.” Boutwell, Sherrie and Kahn, Melissa. Western Pension & Benefit Counsil, January 2024 

“Mental Health Parity Update: 3 Key Developments in 2023.” Boutwell, Sherrie. Journal of Pension Benefits, vol. 31, no. 2, Winter 2024 

“DOL Final Rule for Worker Classification: Impact on Retirement Plan Participation and Healthcare Coverage.” Boutwell, Sherrie. Strafford, March 2024 

“COBRA Continuation Coverage in Mergers and Acquisitions.” Boutwell, Sherrie. Journal of Pension Benefits, vol. 30, no. 3, Spring 2023 

“Impact of the End of the Covid-19 Emergencies on Health and Welfare Plans.” Boutwell, Sherrie. Journal of Pension Benefits, vol. 30, no.3, Summer 2023 

“DOL Investigations of Health & Welfare Plans: Current Trends and Best Practices.” Boutwell, Sherrie. Journal of Pension Benefits, vol. 30, no. 2, Winter 2023 

“503 - Plan Administration: EPCRS and SECURE 2.0.” Boutwell, Sherrie. Conference of Consulting Actuaries, October 2023 

“Is Your Law Firm (Or Client) Required to Offer a Retirement Plan?” Boutwell, Sherrie. Orange County Lawyer, April 2023 

“2023 Annual Legislative & Regulatory Update.” Boutwell, Sherrie and Notto, Dan. Western Pension & Benefit Counsil, January 2023 

Admitted

1983, California; 1984, U.S. District Court, Central District of California and U.S. Tax Court 

Education University of California, Los Angeles, J.D. 1983 

University of California, Irvine, B.A., magna cum Laude, 1979 

 

Awards

“Southern California Super Lawyer,” 2024, 2023, 2022 

AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated Martindale Hubbell, 1999-current 

 

Membership

Fellow, American College of Employee Benefits Council 

Board Member, Orange County Chapter of the National Institute of Pension Administrators, 2010-2023 

American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries 

Western Pension & Benefits Council, Orange County Chapter 

WiPN, Women in Pension Network 

ABA, Tax Section, Labor Section 

California Lawyers Association, Tax & Employment Sections 

Orange County Bar Association, Tax Law Section 

Member, TE/GE Council 

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