Jackson Lewis P.C., one of the country’s preeminent workplace law firms, is pleased to announce Travis DeHaven has joined the firm’s Atlanta office as a principal. Travis has more than 30 years of experience in all matters related to employee benefits and executive compensation. Prior to Travis’ arrival at Jackson Lewis, he was a partner at Taylor English, Jones Day and Troutman Sanders. Travis had significant leadership responsibilities at two of his former firms, including leader of Troutman Sanders’ employee benefits and executive compensation practice.
“Travis’ arrival, combined with the bench strength of our existing employee benefits attorneys gives us the ability to continue to provide the best in class counsel on complex benefits and executive compensation matters,” said Joy M. Napier-Joyce, leader of the firm’s Employee Benefits Practice Group. “He is a seasoned attorney with a practical approach who will expand the depth and breadth of our practice. His approach is an asset for our clients navigating technical and complex benefits issues in a rapidly evolving business and regulatory environment. He is a welcome addition to the firm.”
Travis frequently provides strategic advice to boards of directors and advises plan fiduciaries and board members regarding their separate fiduciary duties, including those arising where company stock is offered as a form of plan investment. Additionally, he works with clients on plan administration compliance including negotiating third party service provider contracts and voluntary self-correction matters, qualified and nonqualified deferred compensation design and compliance, incentive compensation and equity plans and arrangements, compliance with IRC 409A, and mergers and acquisitions.
Travis also provides ERISA litigation support for clients. He was recently lead outside ERISA counsel in Data Marketing Partnership et al v. U.S. Department of Labor et al. In this this landmark ruling, which is currently up on appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, a health insurance plan covering limited partners whose services to the partnership only included tracking and ultimately selling electronic data was determined to be governed by ERISA and, thereby, struck down a U.S. Department of Labor finding to the contrary. The ruling allows Data Marketing Partnership to provide cost-effective, user-friendly self-insured health insurance to its 50,000 plus limited partners.
“We are thrilled to welcome Travis to the Atlanta office,” said Office Managing Principal Todd Van Dyke. “Travis has notable experience in all areas of ERISA, employee benefits and executive compensation matters, which is a huge gain for our clients in the Southeast. His track record speaks for itself, and we look forward to seeing Travis’ contributions to the firm’s Employee Benefits Practice Group as we continue to grow in this space.”
Travis earned both his J.D. and B.A. from the University of Georgia.
