ERISA/Employee Benefits Lawyer

Axiom; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 325,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Flexible work arrangements

Paid holidays & PTO

Job summary

Axiom is seeking an Employee Benefits/ERISA Lawyer to advise clients across industries on health and welfare plans, compliance, and governance. This hybrid/remote role focuses on designing, implementing, and administering complex benefit programs in a regulated environment.

Ideal candidates have at least three years of ERISA experience, strong drafting and negotiation skills, and the ability to translate complex benefits rules into practical guidance for HR, benefits, and legal teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of legal practice in employee benefits/ERISA law.
• Strong focus on health and welfare plans.
• Experience with ERISA plan governance and fiduciary processes.

Responsibilities

• Advise on design, implementation, and administration of health and welfare benefit plans (medical, dental, vision, life, disability, EAP, FSAs/HSAs).
• Counsel on compliance with ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, MHPAEA and related laws.
• Draft, review, and update plan documents, SPDs, SBCs, notices, and employee communications.
• Advise on fiduciary governance, oversight structures, and documentation.
• Review and negotiate vendor/service provider agreements for health and welfare plans.
• Assist clients with claims, appeals, audits, and inquiries related to health and welfare benefits.
• Conduct due diligence in M&A focusing on health and welfare plans.

Skills

ERISA law

Health & welfare plans

Plan governance

Negotiation

Regulatory compliance

Drafting & SPDs

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

We are seeking Employee Benefits/ERISA Lawyersto work hybrid or remotely with our clients in the financial services, luxury retail, food/beverage, technology, and life sciences industries, with a primary focus onhealth and welfare plans.

Responsibilities

• Advise on the design, implementation, and administration ofhealth and welfare benefit plans, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, EAP, wellness, cafeteria plans, and FSAs/HSAs/HRAs.
• Counsel clients on compliance withERISA, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), COBRA, HIPAA, MHPAEA, and related federal and state laws affecting group health plans.
• Draft, review, and updateplan documents, SPDs, SBCs, required notices, and employee communicationsfor health and welfare plans.
• Advise onplan governance and fiduciary compliance, including oversight structures, committee practices, and documentation.
• Handlevendor and service provider agreementsfor health and welfare plans (e.g., TPAs, PBMs, stop‑loss carriers, wellness vendors, networks, consultants), including reviewing and negotiating terms.
• Support clients in responding toclaims, appeals, audits, and inquiries(e.g., DOL, IRS, HHS, state insurance departments) related to health and welfare benefits.
• Conductbenefits‑related due diligencein M&A transactions, focusing on health and welfare plans, and advise on integration, transition, or termination of plans.
• Monitor and interpretregulatory developments and guidanceaffecting group health plans and translate them into practical, business‑oriented advice and implementation steps.
• Partner with HR, benefits, legal, and finance teams to develop and implementcompliant, employee‑friendly benefits strategiesacross multiple industries.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of relevant legal practice experience inemployee benefits/ERISA law, with a strong focus onhealth and welfare plans.
• Strong understanding ofERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, MHPAEA, and other federal and state regulations impacting group health plans.
• Experience withERISA plan governance requirements, including drafting and maintaining plan documents, SPDs, and required notices, and advising on fiduciary processes for health and welfare plans.
• Experience reviewingM&A due diligenceand advising on health and welfare plan issues in corporate transactions.
• Experience negotiating and managinghealth and welfare vendor contracts(TPAs, PBMs, stop‑loss, wellness, networks, consultants).
• Excellentanalytical, drafting, and negotiation skills, with the ability to explain complex benefits rules in clear, practical terms.
• Efficient multitasker with stronginterpersonal skillsand the ability to work both independently andcross‑functionallywith HR, benefits, finance, and legal teams.
• Positive mentality and willingness to tackle new and evolving business needs, including emerging trends inhealth, wellness, and leave programs.
• High ethical standards, professional integrity, and soundjudgment and risk‑assessment skills in a regulated environment.
• Licensed and in good standing to practice law in your state of primary residence.

Compensation

The estimated total compensation for full-time Axiom attorney roles is $104,500-325,000 peryearand for non-attorney roles is $71,250-309,750 per year. Compensation decisions are based onvarious factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skills, certifications, location, and business needs.Employees may be eligible foradditionalbenefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance; paid holidays and PTO; flexible work arrangements; and professional development opportunities and tools.

About Axiom

For over 25 years, Axiom has pioneered the alternative legal services industry, now serving more than 1,500 legal departments globally with our unique blend of world-class legal talent and advanced AI tools, delivering innovative solutions ranging from that combine top-tier talent withcutting-edgetechnology. We tackle complex legal matters across 12 practice areas for clients ranging from Fortune 100 to SMBs, empowering our legal professionals to engage in meaningful work that advances their careers. Our Talent NPS score of +71% and ourClientNPS score of +64% highlight our commitment to excellence ( Reported scores were Axiom’s average for 2025 – the legal industry average NPS score is +35% ). Join our forward-thinking community whereyou’llkeep your career dynamic and multi-faceted, be part of a company that values agility, collaboration, and excellence, and love both the law and your life.

Learn more about life at Axiom .

Axiom is the global leader in high-caliber, on-demand legal talent. Covering North America, the UK, Europe, and APAC, we enable legal departments to drive efficiency and growth and meet the demands of today’s business landscape withbest in classalterativelegal services.

Diversity is core to our values and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Axiom ensures equal employment opportunity in recruitment and employment, without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, nationality, national or ethnic origin, religious creed or belief, political opinion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender identity status, pregnancy or maternity, age, disability, alienage or citizenship status, marital (or civil or other partnership recognized by law) status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, sexual orientation, military service, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Axiom prohibits and will not tolerate any such discrimination or harassment.

Upon request and consistent with applicable laws, Axiom will provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities who require accommodations toparticipatein each stage of the recruitment process. To request an accommodation, please contact [e-mail].

Axiom respects your privacy. For an explanation of the kind ofinformationwe collect about you and how it is used, our full data privacy notice is available here.

Employment with Axiom may be contingent upon successful completion of a background check, providing proof of identity, andpossessingthe necessary legal authorization to work.Pursuant tothe San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, NY Fair Chance Act, and Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.