Press Release

Nathan Hensley, ’25, Receives National Writing Award for Employee Benefits Paper

Issued by University of Chicago Law School

Oct. 9, 2024

Win Represents Fourth Time a UChicago Law School Student Has Been So Honored

Nathan Hensley, ’25, recently received the Sidney M. Perlstadt Memorial Award from the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, Inc. (ACEBC) for his paper, “Pleading Prohibited Practices: Clarifying the Pleading Standard for Prohibited Transactions Complaints Under ERISA Section 406.”

Hensley, the fourth UChicago Law School student to win the national award, was honored at the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel’s annual benefit in Washington, DC, on Sept. 14.

“It was an honor, and a great surprise, to receive this award from the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel,” Hensley said. “This wouldn’t be possible without Professors Charles Wolf, '75, and Philip Mowery, '88, who teach a fantastic employee benefits seminar each year. Celebrating its 50th birthday this year, ERISA is alive with many questions, and I thank the ACEBC for letting me explore one of them.”

Last week, the US Supreme Court granted certiorari to review the issue Hensley discussed in his paper. (The case is Cunningham v. Cornell University, Docket No. 23-1007.)

Kelsey Roberts, ’24, was also honored by the ACEBC with an honorable mention for her paper, “The Uncertain Future of ERISA Section 502(a)(2) Arbitration.”

Prior Law School winners of the Perlstadt Award are Deepa Das Acevedo, ’16, Rebecca Barker, ’19, and Christine O’Connell, ’21.

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