Practices

Business and ERISA Litigation

Garofolo & Ramsdell, LLP represents clients in disputes involving a wide variety of legal matters. Such matters include breach of contract, partnership and other business ownership disputes, consumer protection, employment matters, ERISA disputes, suits seeking retirement and health and welfare benefits, fiduciary breach cases, intellectual property, shareholder disputes, insurance disputes, government investigations, use matters, and class actions.

We have represented plaintiffs, defendants, and third parties in various judicial forums, including in trial, arbitration, and mediation settings. Our attorneys have appeared as counsel in California, Alabama, Arizona, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, and West Virginia.

We draw upon the depth and breadth of our experience to develop effective litigation strategies to achieve our clients’ objectives. While we aggressively pursue our clients’ goals, we understand the costs of litigation and our strategies consider the cost and benefits to our clients.

Joseph A. Garofolo, a founding partner, received a 2012 California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year (CLAY) Award by California Lawyer magazine. CLAY Awards recognize attorneys throughout the State of California who have profoundly impacted the law. He has been selected to the 2014, 2015, and 2016 Northern California Super Lawyers list.

Business Law

Garofolo & Ramsdell, LLP has substantial experience representing companies throughout their life cycle. We represent clients in connection with entity formation, stock issuances, capital structure, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financings, and general corporate matters to help clients achieve their immediate and long term goals. We also structure, negotiate, and close deals for businesses of all sizes and in various stages of maturity.

We pride ourselves in learning about our clients’ businesses to most effectively advise them of their options and help them determine the best course of action for their company. In addition, we advise boards of directors on their fiduciary, legal, and contractual obligations to employees, shareholders, members, and lenders.

Our broad transactional experience allows us to assist companies in a wide variety of business matters and provide quality legal advice with respect to the numerous legal issues that a company may encounter on a regular basis and in less common situations.
 

ERISA/Employee Benefits

We have broad experience relating to retirement and health plans. We have represented plan participants, employers, plan sponsors, medical providers, and service providers with regard to litigation, drafting plan documents, and government investigations. We have worked with a wide variety of retirement plans, including defined contribution plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, employee stock ownership plans, etc.) and defined benefit plans. We provide advice relating single-employer plans, multiemployer plans, master and prototype plans, as well as governmental retirement plans.

In addition to advising plan sponsors and participants, we advise trustees, third party administrators, and other service providers on retirement plan issues. We counsel clients on plan design, service provider agreements, regulatory compliance, and fiduciary duties. We also represent clients with respect to Department of Labor investigations.

With regard to health and welfare plans, we provide advice regarding issues associated with general plan administration, funding mechanisms, and plan amendments. We have transactional and litigation experience relating to both self-funded and fully insured plans.