Jeremy W. Hays

Jeremy counsels employers on a wide variety of issues affecting all types of employee benefit plans. He helps design, implement, and administer retirement, health, and welfare plans, and he regularly advises on benefits matters related to corporate transactions. Jeremy also assists clients with IRS and DOL audits and other regulatory proceedings, internal benefit plan reviews, and plan corrections.

Jeremy helps employers and plans comply with the many federal and state laws governing benefit plans and plan sponsors, including ERISA, the ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and the Internal Revenue Code. He also advises retirement and health plan committees and other plan fiduciaries to ensure they comply with their fiduciary duties.

In addition to his benefits practice, Jeremy has litigated complex cases through trial and on appeal. He has been on winning trial teams in cases ranging from an arbitration brought by a single employee to a lawsuit over the termination of a $30 billion merger, and he has won several cases on appeal. He uses this experience to help clients understand and manage risk, resolve benefits-related disputes, and avoid litigation.

Before entering private practice, Jeremy was a law clerk for Judge David C. Godbey of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. He earned his law degree, cum laude, from the New York University School of Law. He also holds degrees from Yale University and Principia College in Elsah, Illinois. Prior to joining Ogletree Deakins, Jeremy was an attorney at Vinson & Elkins LLP.