Melanie K. Curtice
Experience
Melanie Curtice is considered one of the leading employee benefits lawyers in
Washington State. Selected by Best Lawyers® magazine as the Seattle Employee
Benefits (ERISA) Law Lawyer of the Year in 2014, Melanie works with some of the
largest public and private employers in the Pacific Northwest on health and welfare
benefit plan matters, and the tax, ERISA, HIPAA and other compliance issues that arise
in connection with such arrangements.
Melanie was appointed by former Washington Governor Christine Gregoire to serve on
the first governing board of the Washington Health Benefits Exchange, a new health
insurance marketplace that became available to individuals and small businesses
starting in January 2014.
Representative Work

Drafting and establishing employee benefit plans for health, dental, life,
disability, severance, fringe and other benefits, ensuring compliance with ERISA,
HIPAA, the Internal Revenue Code ("Code"), COBRA and other applicable laws to
Partner
Seattle, WA
(206) 386-7651 direct
(206) 386-7500 fax
minimize the risk of agency penalties and benefit claims by participants.


Establishing and maintaining compliance with legal requirements related to
melanie.curtice@stoel.com
cafeteria plans.
Education
Analyzing, consulting and advising employers concerning maintenance of health

1998, cum laude
and welfare plan documents drafted by insurance companies, third-party

administrators and others.
Executive Articles Editor, Seattle
Assisting with planning related to self-funded welfare plans utilizing Code section
Moot Court Board
Order of the Barristers
University Law Review
501(c)(9)(VEBA) trust arrangements, health reimbursement arrangements and
health savings accounts.


health and welfare benefit plans.
Conducting health and welfare plan audits.
Professional Honors and Activities

Selected by Best Lawyers® as Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law Lawyer of the Year,
Seattle, 2014

Listed in Best Lawyers in America© (currently: Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law),
2012-2016
California State Polytechnic
University, B.A., Political Science,
Analyzing and assisting with establishing policies and procedures to maintain
1990, cum laude
compliance with HIPAA, COBRA, ERISA and other applicable laws relating to

Seattle University School of Law, J.D.,
Admissions

Washington
Melanie K. Curtice

Selected as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" (Washington) by Chambers USA (currently: Labor & Employment:
Employee Benefits & Compensation), 2010-2016

Selected as one of Washington's "Rising Stars" by Washington Law & Politics magazine

Faculty Scholar Award, 1998, End of Year Scholar, 1996-1997, Student Commencement Speaker, Seattle University School of Law

Section leader, Stoel Rives Employee Benefits practice group, 2005-2009
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Member, Washington State Bar Association

Board of Directors, president, 2005-2009, other board positions, 2001-2005, Western Pension & Benefits Conference, Seattle
Chapter
Presentations

"Information Privacy: Learning from a Cautionary Tale," Stoel Rives LLP, Apr. 2015

Panelist, University of Washington School of Law Leadership Series Winter Panel, Feb. 2015

"Exchange and Marketplace Update 2015," Employee Benefit Planning Association, Seattle, Washington, Dec. 2014

"Health Care Reform: What Employers Need to Know for 2015," National Association of Women in Construction, Ancorage,
Alaska, Nov. 2014

Panelist, "Private Exchanges and Employers," Oregon State of Reform Health Policy Conference, Portland, Oregon, Sept. 2014

Panelist, "Is Your Exchange Public or Private?" Western Benefits Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, July 2014

"Health Care Reform: Version 2.0," Stoel Rives LLP, Seattle, Washington (Apr.) Portland, Oregon (May), Anchorage, Alaska
(June), 2014

"The Exchange Landscape: ACA and Legal Perspective," Regence Employer Summit on Health Plans, June 2014

Keynote Speaker, "When Raccoons Attack: The Risk of Going Without Health Insurance," and panelist, "ACA Take II," Western
Pension & Benefits Council Spring Seminar, Apr. 2014

Panelist, "The Hourly Challenge: Did the Final Regulations Make It Any Easier?" Health Care Reform Summit, Association of
Washington Cities, Mar. 2014

Panelist, "Strategies and Options for Employers," State of Reform Washington Health Policy Conference, Jan. 2014

"We Found a Way to Pay for Your Benefits...It's More of Your Salary!," The ASPPA Cincinnati Pension Conference, Nov. 2013

"Health Care Reform - A Checklist for Employers: The 2013 and 2014 Analysis," WSBA CLE Corporate Counsel Institute, Nov. 2013

"Sometimes the Twain Shall Meet: An ERISA Lawyer and In-House Counsel Discuss the 'Benefits' of Working Together" (copresenter), Blue Cross Blue Shield Association 47th Annual Lawyers Conference, Oct. 2013

"Nuts and Bolts of the Health Care Exchange," Washington Finance Officers Association 58th Annual Conference, Sept. 2013

"Health Care Reform: Preparing for 2014 - Are You and Your Employees Ready?," Public Transportation Symposium, Aug. 2013

""Navigating Health Care Exchanges: A Guide for Employers," Western Benefits Conference Annual Meeting, July 2013
Melanie K. Curtice

Panelist, "Washington Health Care Exchange Update: Countdown to October," WSBA Health Law Section Annual Seminar, June
2013

"Health Care Reform: Preparing for 2014," Stoel Rives LLP, May 2013

"Full-Time Definition Under the ACA - The Hourly Challenge," Labor Relations Institute, May 2013

"State Health Care Exchanges," Labor Relations Institute, May 2013

"ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans," EBIA In-Person Seminars, Spring 2013

"Health Care Exchanges: Status, Issues and Pending Questions," WSSHA Annual Spring Hospital & Health Law Seminar, Apr. 2013

Panelist, "Exchange Board Plan for 2014," State of Reform Washington Health Policy Conference, Jan. 2013

"Health Care Reform Update 2012," What Employers Need to Know," The Associated General Contractors of Alaska Annual
Conference, Nov. 2012

"Health Care Reform: Group Health Plan Update 2012," Stoel Rives LLP (Anchorage, Portland, Seattle) Sept., Oct. 2012

Panelist, "Health Care and the Impact of the Supreme Court Decision," City Club of Portland, July 2012
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"Employer-Sponsored Wellness Programs," Health Worksite Summit, 2008-2012
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"HSAs, HRAs and Consumer-Driven Health Care," EBIA In-Person Seminars, 2005-2013

"Health Care Reform: Group Health Plan Update 2011," Stoel Rives LLP, Sept. 2011

"Benefits Update: Making Sense of HRAs, HSAs and FSAs," Labor Relations Institute, May 2011

"Tales From the Crypt: The One Year Anniversary of PPACA," Western Pension and Benefits Conference, Orange County Chapter,
Mar. 2011

What You Need to Know About Health Care Reform Legislation - Implications for Employers and Employer-Sponsored Health
Plans," 2010-2011

"Legal Wellness Townhall" (co-presenter), American Heart Association (Portland Chapter) Wellness Summit, Nov. 2010

"Health Care Reform: Implications for Employers and Employer-Sponsored Health Plans," Stoel Rives LLP, June 2010

"Your Local Forecast," Stoel Rives Employment Law Seminar, Oct. 2006

"The Benefits Aspects of Preparing for Disasters: The Legal Landscape Following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma," Employee
Benefits Planning Association, 2006

"COBRA Compliance," Western Pension and Benefits Conference, Annual Meeting, 2005

"HIPAA Privacy: An Employer's 'How To' Guide for Group Health Plans," 2002-2004
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"HSAs: What are They?," 2004
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"HIPAA Privacy and Security: Compliance Update," Western Pension and Benefits Conference, Seattle Chapter, 2004

"Health and Welfare Benefit Plan Compliance in Washington," NBI, Inc., 2003
Melanie K. Curtice

"New Health Plan Guidance: Over-the-Counter Drugs and Health Savings Accounts," Western Pension and Benefits Conference,
Seattle Chapter, 2003 Technical Session

"Human Resource Audits in Idaho," Lorman Education Services, 2001

"Employment and Benefits Rights Under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA),"
Western Pension and Benefits Conference, Seattle Chapter, 2001
Publications
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"Exploring the Employer Shared Responsibility Rule," General Counsel Agenda, The Advisory Board Company, Apr. 1, 2014
Civic Activities
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Board of Trustees, ArtsFund, 2009 to present
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Board of Directors, Arthritis Foundation, 2002-2004
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Board of Directors, Employers' Health Purchasing Co-op, 2002-2009
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Board of Directors, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of Seattle, 1995-1996