Press Release

Wagner Law Group Welcomes Former PBGC Chief Counsel Israel Goldowitz

Issued by The Wagner Law Group P.C.

Jan. 23, 2019

Izzy is a seasoned litigator who has helped establish several key precedents in the U.S. Supreme Court and Courts of Appeals.  Among them are decisions upholding mandatory arbitration of withdrawal liability claims, defining the rules for terminating single-employer plans and for related asset distributions, and confirming the application of ERISA in pension disputes in bankruptcy.

Izzy began his career with the United Mine Workers of America Health & Retirement Funds, a pioneering group of multiemployer plans.  He was the lead PBGC attorney on multiemployer transactions, rulings and advice for many years, and most recently, oversaw that work as PBGC's Deputy General Counsel for Program Law and Policy.  He has also had charge of several friend-of-court briefs that helped shape the law governing multiemployer plans.

While serving as Deputy General Counsel, Izzy also oversaw the development of regulations and other guidance for the PBGC single-employer and multiemployer insurance programs and advised Congress on legislative proposals affecting those programs.  Additionally, he advised on retirement security in general, including new models for improving employee coverage while limiting employer cost and exposure.

Izzy is well known in the ERISA and bankruptcy community and to leaders in government, business, employee, and retiree associations, and academia.  He is a frequent speaker and has written book chapters, articles, and continuing legal education materials on both employee benefits and bankruptcy topics.  Izzy is a member of the Board of Governors of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel and is active in the International Pension and Employee Benefits Lawyers Association.  He served on the Labor and Benefits Advisory Committee to the American Bankruptcy Institute's Chapter 11 Reform Commission and co-wrote the report of the pension subcommittee.  Izzy has taught in the Georgetown University Law Center Masters of Law program since 1991 and is a member of the John Marshall Law School Employee Benefits Advisory Board.  He earned his J.D. from George Washington University National Law Center and his B.A. in History from Boston University.

The Wagner Law Group is a nationally recognized practice in the areas of ERISA and employee benefits, estate planning, employment, labor and human resources, investment management, immigration and family law.

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