Thompson Coburn Welcomes Employee Benefits Litigator Michael Graham as Partner in Chicago

Experienced employee benefits and ERISA attorney Michael Graham has joined Thompson Coburn as a partner in Chicago, adding depth to the firm’s strong bench of labor and employment litigators.  

Graham focuses his practice on handling employment, fiduciary, regulatory, employee benefits and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) litigation matters. He frequently advises plan administrators, fiduciaries and sponsors on compliance and disputes. He is experienced in the litigation and transactional sides of employee benefits work and has served as first chair on numerous ERISA and employment cases, including fiduciary breach class actions and victories in the United States Courts of Appeal. Graham has also litigated Title VII and multiemployer pension plan disputes, 401(k) plan class actions on administrative fees, and fiduciary and regulatory disputes.

“Thompson Coburn is an established leader in the employment litigation and employee benefits spaces, so the opportunity to join the team in Chicago was one I could not pass up,” Graham said. “The firm has been very strategic in the way it’s grown over the years and offers a great platform to service my existing and new clients.”

Graham’s clients come to him from across industries including insurance, entertainment, health care, finance and manufacturing. He also represents pension plans, including employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), in federal courts and before the U.S. Department of Labor and Internal Revenue Service.  He also advises on Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) reporting requirements and withdrawal liability. He counsels plan administrators and employers on proper compliance with ERISA claims and appeals procedures, helping them minimize liability exposure, and works with clients on a range of employment issues including discrimination and harassment; diversity; wage-and-hour matters; and the labor and employment aspect of mergers and acquisitions. Furthermore, Graham regularly conducts internal corporate investigations, hosts management and supervisor training seminars on workplace matters and serves as outside general counsel for not-for-profit organizations in the workers’ compensation area. He joins Thompson Coburn from Willkie Farr & Gallagher.

“Michael is a tremendous addition to both our Labor & Employment and Litigation teams,” said Thompson Coburn partner Laura Jordan, co-chair of the firm’s Litigation department and Labor & Employment practice group. “His extensive experience handling employee benefits matters coupled with his deep understanding of ERISA and the accompanying regulatory environment will be invaluable to our clients navigating these complex issues.”

A prolific speaker on ERISA and ESOP issues nationally, Graham is a member of the ESOP Association's Legislative & Regulatory Committee. He earned his law degree from Valparaiso University School of Law, magna cum laude, and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois.