Patricia McConnell

Pat works to protect workers’ retirement and healthcare security through the representation of collectively bargained pension and welfare benefit plans in the private and public sectors and labor unions. Her practice encompasses the full range of employee benefits law issues, from the establishment, design and qualification of employee benefit plans to the administration, merger and termination of plans, including by mass withdrawal, and the collection of withdrawal liability. She counsels plan trustees and administrators on fiduciary responsibility, legal compliance, fund administration and investment matters and handles employee benefit claims, appeals and litigation on behalf of both plans and participants. She also advises on the employee benefits aspects of purchases and sales of businesses and compliance with ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, the Affordable Care Act, HIPAA, the Pension Protection Act and other employee benefit and employment laws. In addition to traditional defined benefit pension plans, Pat represents 401(k) and annuity plans and advises on legal compliance by ESOPs. For her entire career, Pat has represented local and international labor organizations, handling litigation, arbitration, collective bargaining, internal union governance and elections, and proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board and other federal and state administrative agencies.

She also represents individuals regarding employment matters, including discrimination and wage and hour claims. Before joining Levy Ratner, she was a partner of Meyer, Suozzi, English and Klein, P.C. and Vladeck, Waldman, Elias and Engelhard, P.C. Pat is rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale‑Hubbell, the highest level of professional excellence, and, from 2013 to date, has been recognized by New York Super Lawyers in the area of employee benefits. She is a former board member of the AFL‑CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee.