Press Release

Eversheds Sutherland Expands Financial Services Bench with Addition of ERISA Powerhouse David Kaleda

Issued by Eversheds Sutherland

June 17, 2025

Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to announce that David Kaleda has joined the firm as a partner on the Employee Benefits team, working closely with the insurance, asset management and financial services practices.

Based in the Washington DC office, Mr. Kaleda has more than two decades of experience advising financial services and insurance clients on complex ERISA Title I matters, with a particular focus on fiduciary issues, collective investment trusts and retirement plan platforms.

“I am thrilled to welcome Dave to Eversheds Sutherland,” said Lino Mendiola, Co-CEO of Eversheds Sutherland. “His deep knowledge of ERISA and its intersection with financial services and insurance will be a tremendous asset to our clients and our firm. Dave’s arrival underscores our commitment to providing top-tier legal counsel in this highly specialized and evolving area.”

Mr. Kaleda’s practice spans fiduciary compliance, prohibited transaction rules and the structuring of alternative investment vehicles, including plan asset funds, REOCs and VCOCs. He regularly advises clients on Department of Labor regulations and has successfully guided firms through the exemption and advisory opinion process. Prior to joining Eversheds Sutherland, he served as a principal at the nation’s largest employee benefits boutique and was previously a partner at a major Big Law firm. Earlier in his career, he worked as an ERISA consultant and in-house counsel at Vanguard and served in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.

“Dave’s arrival significantly strengthens our already robust ERISA capabilities,” said Cliff Kirsch, US Investment Services Practice Group Lead. “His deep experience with fiduciary advice, lifetime income and other retirement products, and evolving regulatory frameworks enhances our ability to deliver sophisticated, forward-looking counsel to our asset management, financial services and insurance clients.”

Mr. Kaleda will be integrated across multiple practices, including Employee Benefits, Investment Services and Insurance Products. He will support existing firm clients and collaborate with colleagues on fiduciary advice, pension risk transfer and the evolving regulatory landscape affecting retirement products.

“Dave is a respected figure in the ERISA financial services community,” said Adam Cohen, Head of the Employee Benefits team. “His collaborative approach and industry insight will be invaluable as we continue to grow our practice and deliver innovative solutions to our clients.”

A frequent speaker and author, Mr. Kaleda has written the “Compliance Consult” column and contributed other articles to PlanAdviser magazine. He serves on the editorial board of The Investment Lawyer and has been recognized by Legal 500 US – Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation. He previously served on the U.S. Department of Labor’s ERISA Advisory Council.

“I’m excited to work with cross-practice teams in the financial services and insurance space at Eversheds Sutherland, leveraging its deep experience in these areas and global reach for the benefit of clients,” said Mr. Kaleda. “Now more than ever, clients need holistic advice that takes account of the rapidly changing landscape in the ERISA, securities, insurance, and related fields.”

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