Kathleen Sweitzer focuses her practice on insurance coverage, litigation, extracontractual and ERISA matters. She concentrates in matters involving ERISA and life, health and disability insurance coverage and extracontractual claims. She has extensive knowledge of the responsibilities and liabilities imposed by ERISA on employers and other fiduciaries and the employment and labor laws relating to employee benefit plans. She represents fiduciaries, benefit plans and insurers in litigation throughout the country, advises insurance providers in coverage disputes and assists in drafting employee benefit plans for her clients. In addition to her practice, Kathleen is a published author on ERISA issues, and editor and contributing author of the firm’s ERISA Hotline. She also serves as the vice chair of the Employee Benefits Committee for the Chicago Bar Association.
Kathleen began her career as an attorney in public service. She served as a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii and as an Americorps volunteer. While at Legal Aid, she represented victims of domestic violence in evidentiary hearings and trials and provided consultation to women residing in domestic violence shelters. Kathleen was also a member of the 2002 Governor's Transition Team on Pension Issues, where she assisted with formulating an agenda for pension reforms.