Karen Kay Barnes

Oakbrook, IL

Karen Kay Barnes is now retired, but was formerly Managing Counsel in the legal department of McDonald's Corporation. She has more than 30 years of experience in the employee benefits field. Karen was Chair (2013) and Vice Chair (2012) of the Department of Labor ERISA Advisory Council. Karen was named one of the top 50 Most Influential People in the 401(k) Industry by 401(k) Wire in 2007 and was listed in Illinois Super Lawyers in 2008 and 2009. Karen's background combines the corporate plan sponsor perspective with legal expertise as a partner of the law firm of McDermott, Will and Emery and consulting experience as a principal with the consulting firm of Mercer, Inc. She also formerly served as Chair of the Board of Directors and the Legal and Legistlative Committee of the Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA), as former National President of WEB, Inc., Co-founder of the WEB Chicago Chapter, and the former chair of the Employee Benefits Committee of the Chicago Bar Association. Karen is a Fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel and serves on its Board of Governors. She has a JD and a LLM in Taxation from DePaul University College of Law. Karen is listed in Who's Who in America.