Claire P. Rowland
Experience
Claire Rowland counsels clients on a broad range of employee benefits issues including
all aspects of qualified retirement plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans,
executive compensation, and health and welfare benefit plans. Her clients have
included a variety of employers ranging from large multimillion- and multibilliondollar entities to small professional corporations and nonprofit organizations. Claire is
a Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA) and Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) with
the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA) (2002).
Claire regularly assists clients with maintaining the continued qualification of clients’
qualified plans as well as with the correction of plan document failures and plan
operational failures in accordance with IRS and DOL requirements and guidance. In
addition, she helps clients comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A
applicable to executive compensation and nonqualified deferred compensation plans.
Attorney
Before joining Stoel Rives, Claire was an associate with Sherman & Howard L.L.C. in
Seattle, WA
Denver, Colorado (2009-2015) where she also served as a law clerk (2007-2009), a
(206) 386-7519 direct
summer associate (2008) and a paralegal (2003-2007).
Representative Work
(206) 386-7500 fax
claire.rowland@stoel.com
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Defends employers in IRS and DOL audits of qualified retirement plans.
Education
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Counsels on compliance with ERISA, IRS and DOL regulations and statutes.
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Designs and drafts plan documents, amendments, restatements, summary plan
University of Denver Sturm College of
Law, J.D., 2010, with highest honors
Recipient, Scholastic Excellence
descriptions, notices and communications.
Awards, Lawyering Process, Advanced
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Prepares determination letter applications for qualified retirement plans.
Legal Research, Administrative Law,
Bankruptcy Law
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Counsels on correction options, alternatives and procedures with respect to
qualified retirement plan document failures and operational failures.
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Prepares corrective VCP filings for IRS and DFVCP filings for DOL.
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Advises on compliance with Code Section 409A in executive compensation
matters and Code Section 409A correction procedures under IRS Notices 2008-113
and 2010-6.
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Prepares analyses of controlled group and affiliated service group relationships.
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Performs due diligence reviews of employee benefit plans in mergers and
acquisitions transactions.
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Advises on compliance with COBRA continuation coverage requirements.
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Drafts business associate agreements to comply with HIPAA and HITECH Act.
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University of Maryland, B.A., American
History, 1992, cum laude
Admissions
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Washington
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Colorado
Claire P. Rowland
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Drafts client advisories regarding guidance and requirements issued by the IRS or DOL with respect to qualified retirement plans
and nonqualified deferred compensation plans.
Professional Honors and Activities
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Board Member (2013-2015); Chair, Communications Committee (2014-2015); Western Pension & Benefits Council, Denver
Chapter
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Member (2015-present); Government Affairs Committee, American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries
Civic Activities
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Member, University of Denver Sturm College of Law Alumni Council, 2010-present
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Alumni Council Liaison, University of Denver Law GOLD (formerly Recent Alumni Hub), 2012-2015
Presentations & Publications
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Co-author, "Developments in Employee Benefits Law: Same-Sex Marriage and Title VII’s Protection for LGBT Employees," Stoel
Rives World of Employment Blog, Jan. 2016
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Moderator, “The ACA and New Trends in Health and Welfare Plan Design” and “Wellness Programs and Strategies Under the New
Regulations,” Western Benefits Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, July 2014
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Panelist, “Thorns in Your Administrative Side” and “Ask the Experts,” Denver Benefits Summit, Denver, Colorado, Apr. 2014