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Laura A.Ryan

Partner
Cincinnati

O 513.352.6727

Laura A.Ryan

Partner

Laura is a partner in firm's Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice group. She focuses her practice on the design, maintenance and termination of tax-qualified retirement plans and trusts; analysis of employee benefit issues in the context of corporate mergers and acquisitions; welfare plan and flexible benefit plan administration and documentation; various aspects of executive compensation including establishment and maintenance of non-qualified deferred compensation plans; IRS and Department of Labor plan audits; governmental reporting obligations; compliance with ERISA fiduciary and prohibited transaction rules; and corrective actions under regulatory relief programs.

From 2001 to 2005 Laura served as a senior attorney for Convergys Corporation. The combination of her years of experience in private practice and as in-house counsel at a large public corporation with a global footprint has given her valuable insight and a unique perspective on finding practical solutions for clients' challenges.

Ranked In Chambers USA 2026
Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer 2026
Recognized in Best Lawyers 2027
Net Diligence Breach Coach Silver

Laura's experience serving as in-house counsel at a global public corporation informs her unique perspective.

Focus Areas

  • “SECURE 2.0 Deep Dive – Portability: Will Auto-in Become the New Default?” Thompson Hine Webinar, October 2023
  • “SECURE 2.0 Deep Dive – Long-term Part-time Employees: 1.0 + 2.0,” Thompson Hine Webinar, April 2023
  • “SECURE 2.0 Deep Dive – Catch-up Contributions Get Complicated,” Thompson Hine Webinar, March 2023
  • “The Fundamentals of Corporate Board Governance and Fiduciary Duties,” presented to the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Southwest Ohio, May 2022
  • “Surge in ERISA Litigation Leading to Multimillion-Dollar Settlements,” Thompson Hine Premier Client Summit, May 2016
  • “What to Do When…the DOL Investigates Your Benefit Plan,” Thompson Hine Human Resources Briefing, May 2015
  • “401(k) Plan Fees and Funds,” Thompson Hine Premier Client Summit, May 2015
  • “Retirement Plan Update,” Thompson Hine Benefits Briefing, September 2014
  • “New Benefit Plan Disclosure Requirements,” Louisville Area Chapter CEBS Meeting, July 2012
  • “Plan Fiduciary Best Practices – What are they? Why are they so important?”, Florida West Coast Employee Benefits Council, January 2011
  • “New Laws, Trends and Best Practices Affecting Group Health Plans,” Thompson Hine Spotlight on Women Program, December 2009
  • “Employee Benefit Trends and Issues in Tough Economic Times,” Association of Corporate Counsel Southwest Ohio Chapter, February 2009
  • “The Clock is Still Ticking: Despite Extension Full Steam Ahead With 409A,” Greater Cincinnati Compensation and Benefits Association, September 2007
  • Panelist, “Executive Compensation- No Longer Business As Usual,” Business Courier Business Law Roundtable Series, Cincinnati Ohio, February, 2005
  • “An Introduction to Qualified Retirement Plans and Overview of ERISA,” Cincinnati/Dayton Chapter of International CEBS Society, 1996
  • “Overview of Qualified and Non-Qualified Retirement Plans,” Cincinnati Chapter of OSCPA, 1995
  • Selected to Law360’s Benefits Editorial Advisory Board, 2023 to 2025
  • Selected for inclusion in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, Ohio, 2021 to 2026
  • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015 to 2027 for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law; named the Best Lawyers® 2019 Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Cincinnati
  • Recommended in Legal 500, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, 2012 to 2026

Professional Associations

  • Cincinnati Bar Association
  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • American Bar Association

Professional Activities

  • Planning Committee for annual Cincinnati Employee Benefits Conference, 1998-2001
  • Cincinnati Bar Association, chairperson of the Employee Benefits Committee, 2000-2001
  • Cincinnati Academy of Leadership for Lawyers, Class V, 2001

Education

  • University of Cincinnati College of Law, J.D., 1992
  • Northern Kentucky University, B.S., 1989,
    cum laude

Bar Admissions

  • Ohio