Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026
Time: 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET
Location: Virtual
Contact: Diane Weber, Diane.Weber@ThompsonHine.com
Join us for the next session in our 2026 Brown Bag Benefits webinar series — quick and concise lunchtime programs designed to deliver timely updates on employee benefits matters without taking up too much space on your calendar. Each 30-minute session provides practical insights on emerging legal developments and regulatory trends impacting plan sponsors and benefit professionals.
As pension risk transfer transactions continue to attract attention from regulators and plaintiffs' attorneys, plan sponsors face important legal and fiduciary considerations when transferring defined benefit pension liabilities to insurers.
Join Thompson Hine lawyers Katherine Kohn and Mark Kroboth as they explore the evolving legal landscape, surrounding pension risk transfers, including recent litigation challenging annuity provider selections, ERISA fiduciary obligations, and practical steps plan sponsors should consider before undertaking a transaction.
Topics will include:
- Litigation trends: What recent lawsuits challenging pension risk transfer transactions mean for plan sponsors and fiduciaries.
- Fiduciary considerations: Navigating ERISA's fiduciary standards and the DOL's Interpretive Bulletin 95-1 when selecting an annuity provider.
- Preparing for a pension risk transfer: Key steps to take before initiating a transaction, including reviewing plan provisions, evaluating participant data and benefit calculations, and establishing a prudent fiduciary decision-making process.
- Practical risk management: Best practices for documenting fiduciary decisions, evaluating insurers, and mitigating litigation exposure.
We'll highlight key developments and practical takeaways for employers considering or implementing pension risk transfer transactions.