Mark came to Groom because, as he observes, “Groom’s focus on benefits was compelling,” and he remains with the firm “because the level of expertise and the sharing of that expertise among all the attorneys allow us to provide the highest level of ERISA representation in an efficient manner.”

Mark has been providing his own high-level expertise to clients through his specialization in the design and taxation of employee benefit plans, and has 12 years experience in benefits law. He has worked extensively to resolve operational and design issues for defined contribution and defined benefit plans, as well as related executive and nonqualified plans. Mark manages the legal work for the retirement plans of several Fortune 500 companies. He has assisted employers with the merger of defined benefit plans and the conversion of such plans to a cash balance or other hybrid design. He has also played a lead role in the compliance review of tax-qualified plans of several large employers. Mark regularly interacts with IRS and Treasury officials on behalf of clients on both a formal and informal basis.

Mark has contributed a number of articles to professional publications on topics such as cash balance plans, participant notice requirements, 401(k) plan testing issues, and plan loans. He is a member of ASPPA, a national professional society of benefits professionals, where he currently serves as the Chair of the IRS Subcommittee of ASPPA's Government Affairs Committee. Mark is a former adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, where he co-taught a course on tax-qualification rules for retirement plans.

Mark is a member of the firm’s Recruiting Committee which gives him important perspective on what makes law firms attractive to potential associates and lateral partners – and what kinds of people Groom is looking for.  Most of the lawyers whom Groom interviews have contacted the firm because they know of the firm’s reputation in the benefits field; they decide to come here because they sense that the firm honestly believes that lawyers with well-rounded lives are better lawyers.  Check out Mark when he is invited onto the stage of a local club by his brother, Nils, and you can see just how much Mark believes in that sentiment.

Mark is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Minnesota.