Christine Keller advises a wide range of clients on all aspects of health and welfare plan design, administration, and funding including compliance with federal tax, ERISA, and other federal and state law requirements, plan and VEBA trust document drafting, participant disclosure, change in election issues, wellness program compliance, and claims and appeals. Her clients include employers, insurers, and service providers of all sizes. She draws on her prior IRS experience to provide practical advice about risk and to assist clients with obtaining informal guidance and rulings from the IRS and other federal agencies. Christine is actively helping clients understand the ramifications of proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act and frequently speaks to clients and professional groups on that topic. Christine joined the firm in 2001 after practicing for six years at the IRS, Office of Chief Counsel (Tax-Exempt and Government Entities Division). At the Office of Chief Counsel, Christine worked first in the qualified plans litigation branch and later in the health and welfare branch. She is one of the principal authors of two sets of final cafeteria plan regulations published by the IRS in 2000 and 2001. Christine is the Executive Principal of Groom. She is currently a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, and served on the committee from 2016-2020. Previous Experience Office of Chief Counsel, Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division, IRS Professional Affiliations Fellow, American College of Employee Benefits Counsel Technical Advisory Council of the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC) Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia Honors & Distinctions Listed, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (2014-2021) Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (2021-2022) Listed, The Legal 500 US, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation (2013-2014) Listed, The Legal 500 US, Healthcare (2011) Member, Practical Law Company Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Advisory Board
Events Groom Webinar: State Abortion Restrictions and the Impact on Employers, Insurers, and Self-Insured Plans (June 16, 2022) Groom Webinar
News Chambers USA 2022 Recognizes Groom as Top Firm for Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation and ERISA Litigation Press ReleaseJune 1, 2022
Publications Administration Budget Proposals Tighten Rules for 409A Violations, VEBA Funding and Indemnity Health Plans Groom PublicationApril 11, 2022
News From Cranes to Fiction to Health Plans: Musings from Groom’s Executive Principal Christine Keller NewsMarch 3, 2022
Publications Update! Departments Issue More Guidance Addressing Coverage of Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests COVID-19 ResourceFebruary 7, 2022
News Christine Keller Discusses COVID-19 Vaccine Measures for Employers with SHRM Society for Human Resource Management February 4, 2022
Publications Illinois Employers: Are You Complying With the Consumer Coverage Disclosure Act? Groom PublicationFebruary 3, 2022