Ruth Anne Collins Michels

Ruth’s practice focuses on assisting clients in ensuring their retirement and health/welfare plans remain compliant with the myriad tax laws and new health care reform requirements.

Ruth’s experience includes, but is not limited to:

Retirement Plans – Qualified and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans

Ruth provides guidance regarding the corrections of errors in retirement plan administration through submissions under the IRS correction program for tax-qualified retirement plans. These submissions have included corrections relating to failed discrimination tests, failures to timely amend retirement plans for changes in the law, and conforming plan terms to plan operations.

Ruth routinely advises employer on matters concerning the design, implementation, and operation of 401(k), 403(b), defined benefit pension plans, and executive deferred compensation plans. Her representation includes plan document and amendment drafting, self-correction advice, working with employers to correct significant plan failures including submissions to the IRS under the Voluntary Compliance Program, IRS determination letter filings, submissions to correct delinquent Form 5500 filings through the DOL Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program, and, advising clients on fiduciary best practices in relation to their retirement plans.

Representative engagements:

• Worked with an employer to correct various failures under its 401(k) plan (including a failure to offer the plan to new employees, failure to properly administer the plan’s entry date rules) reaching back over 10 years (to the date the plan was initially put into place), including calculations of corrective contributions to be made to the plan, and drafting amendments to bring the plan into compliance not only with applicable laws but also to conform the terms of the plan to the operations of the plan
• Guided an employer in establishing its employee benefits committee, including advising on fiduciary best practices and assisting in the drafting of the committee’s governing charter
• Advised an employer regarding the correction of non-discrimination testing failures under its 401(k) plan that reached back over ten years and obtained IRS approval of the corrections through a submission under the IRS’ Voluntary Correction Program
• Assisted an employer in offering a lump sum window opportunity under its defined benefit plans, including drafting plan amendments and participant communications

Health and Welfare Plans

Ruth regularly works with employers in resolving issues related to their health and welfare benefits plans. Her experience includes advising employers on cafeteria plans under Code Section 125 (including issues related to participant elections and handling leaves of absence), drafting flexible spending account plans, compliance with COBRA (including failures to timely provide COBRA election notices), and providing advice on compliance with the ever-changing regulatory guidance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. Ruth also has assisted numerous clients with compliance with the HIPAA privacy regulations — including the new requirements related to data breaches — and has a recognized expertise in the application of this complex area of the law to employers and health plans.

Representative engagements:

• Guided an employer through the move from a fully-insured health plan to a self-insured health plan, including the establishment of a Voluntary Employee Benefits Association (VEBA)
• Assisted an employer in preparing and filing delinquent Forms 5500 for its health and welfare plans – reaching back six years
• Worked with an employer to correct COBRA failures related to its on-site clinic

Education

• J.D., cum laude, Georgia State University College of Law, 2000
• B.S.B.A., Central Michigan University, 1990

Admission to Practice

• Georgia

• Atlanta Bar Association
• State Bar of Georgia
• Worldwide Employee Benefits Network (WEB) (Secretary of Atlanta Chapter, 2005-2006)
• Women in Pensions

• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Managing M&A: From Due Diligence to Integration” – Amelia Island – November 14, 2024
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Harmonizing Workforces After a Merger or Acquisition” – Phoenix – November 10, 2023
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “The Kaleidoscope of State and Local Leave Laws” – Colorado Springs – September 22, 2022
• Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Embracing Workplace Mobility—Without Creating Legal Liability” – Phoenix – May 5, 2022
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Can’t Even Recruit Recruiters? How In-House Counsel Can Help With Hiring Challenges” – Amelia Island – November 12, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Reopening Georgia: An Update for Georgia Employers” – May 13, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “CARES Act: What the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Means for Employers” – April 2, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “CARES ACT: What the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Means for Employers” – April 1, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “COVID-19 Update for Employers: Employee Benefits and Compensation Issues ” – March 25, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “COVID-19 Update for Employers: Employee Benefits and Compensation Issues” – March 23, 2020
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “From Term Sheet to Close: The Life Cycle of an M&A Transaction” – New Orleans – November 14, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Flustered by 401 (k)s? Key Tips for HR Professionals” – Las Vegas – May 3, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Health Plan Headache? How to Make a Sense of Plan Design Options” – Las Vegas – May 2, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Symposium  – “Making a Deal: Using Meaningful Benefits and Compensation Due Diligence to Further Your M&A Goals ” – Las Vegas  – April 30, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Arbitration and Other Ways to Protect Your 401(k) Plan From Fee Litigation” – Phoenix – May 10, 2018
• Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Symposium – “Arbitration Agreements and Other Ways to Insulate Your 401(k) Plan From Fee Litigation” – Phoenix – May 9, 2018
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Fiduciary Fee Lawsuits Are in the News—Will You Be the Next Target?” – San Diego – May 4, 2017
• Ogletree Deakins Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Symposium – “Is Your Plan “Vaccinated” Against the Epidemic of Plan Fee Litigation?” – Austin – March 23, 2017
• National Healthcare Access – “Health Care Reform Update” – Las Vegas – December 11, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Hey – What’s your ERISA doing in my HR matter?” – Pittsburgh – November 18, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Affordable Care Act – Are You Ready for 2015?” – Scottsdale – October 3, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Health Care Reform Update” – Hershey – September 24, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Watch Your Step! Avoiding Hazards with Employee Benefit Plans and Fiduciary Liability” – Las Vegas – May 8, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Health Care Reform Update” – Pittsburgh – March 18, 2014
• Sterling Education Services – “Health Care Reform” – Montgomery – November 5, 2013
• Sterling Education Services – “Health Care Reform” – Atlanta – October 8, 2013
• CAI 2013 Employment and Labor Law Update – “Are You Ready? The Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Employer-Sponsored Health Plans” – Raleigh – May 22, 2013
• Construction Financial Management Association – “Are You Ready? The Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Employer-Sponsored Health Plans” – Atlanta – May 15, 2013
• Construction Financial Management Association – “Are You Ready? The Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Employer-Sponsored Health Plans” – Atlanta – May 15, 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies – “Fiduciary Duties, Plan Fees and Increase Potential Liability Exposure” – New Orleans – May 10, 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Fiduciary Duties, Plan Fees and Increase Potential Liability Exposure” – New Orleans – May 10, 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “FAQs on Health Care Reform – What’s on Your Mind?” – Atlanta – April 4, 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “They’re Baaack: What the Latest HIPAA Regulations Mean For Employer Health Plans” – March 14, 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “FAQs on Health Care Reform – What’s on Your Mind?” – Pittsburgh – March 7, 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “ERISA Fiduciary Risks: How to Keep Your Retirement Plans Compliant and Your Fiduciaries Out of Court” – Tampa – February 13, 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Wellness Plan and HIPAA, GINA, EEOC And Health Reform: Putting It All Together” – Chicago – May 13, 2011
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Benefit Plan Fiduciary Compliance And Fee Disclosure Requirements – The Changing Rules” – Chicago – May 12, 2011
• Ogletree Deakins Briefing – “Top 10 Tips for Keeping Your Plans Compliant and Your Fiduciaries Out of Court” – April 2011
• Worldwide Employee Benefits Network — Benefits Boot Camp – “Retirement Plans” – Atlanta – April 2011
• Ogletree Deakins Briefing – “Health Care Reform Update – Are Your Ready?” – Pittsburgh – October 2010
• Arizona SHRM Annual Conference – “Healthcare Reform: A Strategic Perspective” – Phoenix – August 2010
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Deferred Compensation Plan – Correcting Document and Operational Failures” – Las Vegas – May 2010
• Worldwide Employee Benefits Network — Benefits Boot Camp – “Health Plans (overview)” – Atlanta – March 2010
• Ogletree Deakins webinar – “Internal Revenue Code Section 409A Document Correction Program” – January 2010
• Worldwide Employee Benefits Network – “Legislative Update” – Atlanta – November 1, 2009
• SHRM Conference – “Benefits Law Update” – Atlanta – October 2009
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Deferred Compensation After Section 409A – Continuing Impact and Limitations” – Miami – May 2009
• Worldwide Employee Benefits Network — Benefits Boot Camp – “Health Plans (overview)” – Atlanta – April 1, 2009

• July 26, 2023 – Atlanta Business Chronicle – “Navigating retirement plans in mergers and acquisitions: To terminate or maintain?”
• December 19, 2022 – SHRM Online – “Colorado Implements Savings Program for Workers Without Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans”
• June 18, 2021 – SHRM Online – “Audit Standard Imposes New Responsibilities on Benefit Plan Sponsors”
• October 5, 2017 – SHRM Online – “EEOC Provides Timeline for Revising Wellness Regulations”

• Georgia Super Lawyers “Rising Star” (2006, 2007, and 2009)