Press Release

Groom Law Group Continues to Grow With the Addition of Five New Attorneys and the Promotion of Three Of Counsel

Issued by Groom Law Group

Jan. 11, 2021

Groom Law Group, Chartered is pleased to announce the addition of five new attorneys as well as the promotion of three attorneys to of counsel, furthering the expansion of the firm’s benefits, health and retirement practices.

“We are very excited to add this group of talented lawyers to our team,” said Mike Prame, the firm’s Executive Principal. “Our growth reflects the trust that an expanding client base has placed in our firm and our commitment to being the preeminent law firm for benefits, retirement products and services, healthcare insurance products and services, and litigation and policy work in those core areas.  The new team members bring to Groom a diversity of experience, thought and backgrounds that will further enhance our ability to support our clients.  In addition to the new attorneys, we are excited to promote to of counsel three attorneys who have made considerable contributions to the firm over the years and who have consistently provided excellent service to our clients.”

The firm is proud to welcome:

Joanne Jacobson joins the firm as of counsel and has extensive experience advising corporations, tax-exempt organizations, governmental employers, and financial institutions on a broad range of employee benefits and executive compensation issues.  Her expertise covers numerous topics affecting employer sponsored tax-qualified retirement plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, equity compensation programs, executive employee agreements, and health and welfare arrangements. In addition to plan design, implementation and administration, Joanne helps plan sponsors navigate the benefits issues related to mergers and acquisitions and the termination of pension plans. She advises plan benefit committees on their fiduciary obligations and guides employers through internal compliance audits and responds to audits and investigations by the IRS, DOL and PBGC.

Victoria Allen is an associate practicing in the firm’s plan sponsor group.  Prior to joining Groom, Victoria served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Michael J. Gilmore, J.T.C. at the Tax Court of New Jersey. She earned her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.

David Block is an associate with experience advising clients on a wide range of federal tax and ERISA matters related to employee benefits and executive compensation. His practice encompasses qualified retirement plans, federal income and employment taxes, and health and welfare arrangements. Prior to joining Groom, David served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Robert P. Ruwe at the United States Tax Court. He earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law.

Rachael Hancock is an associate practicing in the firm’s litigation group.  Prior to joining Groom, Rachael clerked for the Honorable Noel L. Hillman at the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.  Rachael also has prior experience working in the D.C. office of an international law firm, where she specialized in international arbitration and global disputes.  She earned her J.D. from Cornell Law School.

Matthew Lanahan is an associate with experience advising health insurers and large plan sponsors on a variety of health law matters, including issues arising under ERISA, the Affordable Care Act, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, COBRA and HIPAA.  He also defends employers in connection with audits by the Department of Labor. He earned his J.D. from the University of Michigan School of Law.

The firm is proud to promote:

Mark Carolan is a versatile member of Groom’s plan sponsor group given his technical proficiency, actuarial background and deep knowledge of defined benefit plan issues. He skillfully counsels clients on plan funding issues, de-risking and terminations and on other PBGC matters.

Sam Levin is a core member of the firm’s litigation group. He is a subject matter expert in both 401(k) fee cases and withdrawal liability disputes, frequently representing 401(k) and 403(b) plan fiduciaries in class actions challenging plan expenses and investment performance and handling a variety of high-profile cases involving the selection of actuarial assumptions and successor liability, among other issues.

Emily Lucco is a key member of both the firm’s plan sponsor and health services groups. She tackles a broad range of health law matters, counseling plan sponsors, insurers and third parties on a variety of issues relating to health plan documents, the application of ERISA to insurance products, the Affordable Care Act, association health plans, PEOs and mental health parity.

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