Nancy G. Ross

Chicago, IL

"'a go-to person for ERISA litigation,'" and "'thorough in her preparation and skilled in negotiation'... 'an absolutely excellent ERISA litigator...'" –Chambers USA
Nancy G. Ross is a partner in Mayer Brown's Chicago office and Co-Chair of the ERISA Litigation practice. She focuses her practice primarily on the area of employee benefits class action litigation and counseling under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Nancy has extensive experience in counseling and representing employers, boards of directors, plan fiduciaries and trustees in matters concerning pension and welfare benefit plans. Her experience includes representation of pension and 401(k) plans, ESOPs, trustees and employers concerning their administration of plan assets and fiduciary responsibilities before the courts and the Department of Labor. Nancy frequently represents directors and officers who are named as defendants in ERISA litigation over 401(k) plans and other employee benefit plans. She also has extensive experience in assisting employers seeking to reduce their retiree health benefits exposure. Nancy has also been approved by various insurance companies to represent directors and officers in fiduciary litigation.
Nancy is consistently recognized as a leader in ERISA litigation by the most highly regarded legal directories and industry publications in the United States. In 2019, she was named an Employment Trailblazer by The National Law Journal, which recognizes lawyers who have impacted employment law and the overall legal industry through new types of strategies and innovative court cases. Since 2006, Chambers USA has recognized Nancy as a leader in ERISA litigation and benefits litigation. Legal 500 has recognized her as a leader in ERISA litigation since 2008 and refers to her as an authority on employee and benefits disputes, stating, "Nancy Ross is 'just a total expert' on employee benefits disputes, and 'understands the implication of every issue.'" She was named a 2019 "Lawyer of the Year ERISA Litigation - Chicago" by Best Lawyers. She was also listed in Benchmark Litigation's 2018 "Top 250 Women in Litigation" list, which highlights the nation's leading women who participate in the "most impactful litigation matters in recent history[.]" Nancy has also been named among the top lawyers in the field of employee benefits/ERISA by Illinois Super Lawyers since 2005. She has also been named one of the top 50 women lawyers in Illinois consistently since 2008, and was named among the top 100 lawyers in Illinois in 2017 and 2018. Best Lawyers also selected Nancy as the 2016 "Lawyer of the Year Honoree, Litigation - ERISA" in addition to selecting her as a 2014 "Lawyer of the Year ERISA Litigation - Chicago." Best Lawyers named Nancy a nominee for their inaugural 2017 "Women of Influence" Award stating, "Nancy's confidence in herself and her abilities, whether in the courtroom, on a client call, or at a firm meeting, always shines through, setting a wonderful example for women around her."
Education
• Loyola University Chicago School of Law, JD
• University of Colorado, BA
Admissions
Bar
• Illinois
Court
• US Supreme Court
• US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
• US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
• US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Activities
• Former Board Member of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois
• Global Advisory Board Member of the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF)
• Apointee of the Policy Board Advisory Council for The American Benefits Council, one of the leading industry organizations advancing the interests of corporations in providing employee benefits
• Fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, in recognition of her distinguished service and professional attainment in the field of employee benefits
• Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, recognizing outstanding dedication to the welfare of the community, the traditions of the profession and the advancement of the objective of the American Bar Association (ABA)
• Former co-chair of the Fiduciary Responsibility Committee of the ABA Employee Benefits Committee in the ABA's Labor and Employment Section
• Regular speaker at the ACI Conference on ERISA Litigation
• Former Member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Bar Foundation
• Member of the Grants Committee of the Chicago Bar Foundation
• Member of the Advisory Council and former board member of the Judge James P. Moran Center For Youth Advocacy, which provides legal and social services to minors
• Editor of the Benefits Law Journal, a preeminent publication featuring articles addressing important issues in benefits litigation
• Taught Litigation Procedure and Strategy as an Adjunct Professor at Loyola University School of Law

Health and Welfare Plans

In addition to Health and Welfare Plans, I have also been speaker on Fiduciary/Other Title I Issues.

Fiduciary/Other Title I Issues

Extensive experience in counseling and representing employers, boards of directors, plan fiduciaries and trustees in matters concerning pension and welfare benefit plans.