ATTORNEY AND STAFF BIOS

Jeffery Mandell, President

John C. Hughes, Attorney

Kerri Carmouche, Legal Assistant

Erin Miller, Legal Assistant

Mary Mandell, Chief Financial Officer/Office Manager

ATTORNEY BIOGRAPHIES

JEFFERY MANDELL is founder and President of The ERISA Law Group, P.A. Jeff complements his technical expertise with a practical approach based on 29 years of a practice devoted to ERISA. Since 1982, he has concentrated his practice solely in retirement plans, welfare plans, and other ERISA and deferred compensation matters.

Jeff's practice extends to 401(k), profit sharing, nonqualified deferred compensation, 457, pension, 403(b), cross-tested, cafeteria, ESOP, governmental, health, welfare, and prototype plans.

He represents for-profit employers, tax-exempts, governmental entities, associations, and, occasionally, individuals. He also represents pension professionals and organizations that offer plan services, such as financial institutions, third-party administrators, accountants, attorneys, and plan consultants.

Jeff is a nationally recognized practitioner, speaker, and author on ERISA topics, and has been voted each year by his peers to be listed in the Best Lawyers in America since 1995. He was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Idaho College of Law and the University of Wisconsin Law School. His textbook regarding ERISA plan administrative and legal matters was published in 1998 by Panel Publishers. Jeff is the founder of Employee Benefit Publications and Seminars.

Jeff serves to represent Idaho on the IRS Pacific Coast TE/GE Council (see Firm News above).

Jeff was a partner and head of the Employee Benefits practice group at several law firms (including Hawley Troxell Ennis & Hawley in Boise, Idaho and Boardman, Suhr, Curry & Field in Madison, Wisconsin).

EDUCATION AND TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

Law School		University of Texas, J.D., 1982
Undergraduate		University of Virginia, B.A., 1977, with high distinction La Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá University of Pennsylvania
Associations		Western Pension & Benefits Conference, Boise Chapter, Founding Board Member American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries National Institute of Pension Administrators Employee Benefits Publications and Seminars, Founder Madison (WI) Pension Council, Former President and Board member Member of The Group

PERSONAL

Born (1955) and raised in Chicago; married, three daughters; loves the outdoors, sports, music and Idaho.

 

 

JOHN C. HUGHES joined The ERISA Law Group, P.A. in 2006. John's practice is focused exclusively in the area of ERISA/employee benefits.

John represents clients relative to issues involving all kinds of employee benefit plans including pension, 401(k), profit sharing, 457, 403(b), nonqualified deferred compensation, ESOP, governmental, cafeteria, and health and welfare plans.

John counsels clients on a variety of plan related issues including fiduciary responsibilities, plan operations and administrative issues, plan corrections, plan design, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, and plan qualification. John has assisted plan sponsors in implementing programs and policies in response to various governmental regulations.

John's experience includes drafting plan documents and amendments, associated resolutions and consents, various plan required notices, summary plan descriptions, benefit statements, distribution forms, merger related documents, purchase agreements, plan related procedures, service provider contracts, QDROs and QMCSOs, requests for Internal Revenue Service determination letters, applications under the Internal Revenue Service's plan correction program, and qualified domestic relations orders.

John was Managing Editor of the California Western Law Review. He acted as a Pro Tem Judge for the San Diego Superior Court from 2001 through 2005. He is a former member of the Louis M. Welsh Inn of Court.

John is currently the President of the Boise Chapter of the Western Pension and Benefits Conference.

EDUCATION

Law School		California Western School of Law, J.D., 1995
Undergraduate		State University of New York at Buffalo, B.A., Communication, 1991 (with distinction)
Associations		Idaho State Bar California State Bar Western Pension & Benefits Conference (President - Boise Chapter) City Club of Boise, Member

PERSONAL

Born (1969); raised on Long Island, New York; married with 3 sons.