Hauptfuehrer, Sara E.

Category: Business

Review: Fax:(304) 624-8183 Sara.Hauptfuehrer@Steptoe-Johnson.com

Description: With an emphasis on litigation, Sara Hauptfuehrer’s practice focuses in the area of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). She also handles employment discrimination litigation and counsels on a number of employee benefits-related issues.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Defended acquiring company in litigation alleging various violations of ERISA in connection with a multi-million dollar business combination
Summary judgment involving multi-employer pension trust in litigation seeking additional pension benefits
Opposed class certification in employment discrimination litigation and successfully defended the denial of class certification before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
Summary judgment in numerous actions involving challenges to denial of benefits under ERISA plans
Summary judgment involving claim of disability discrimination
Tax court litigation involving IRS’s disallowance of deductions to individual defined benefit plans
AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

Employee benefits litigation
Employment litigation
Class actions
Appellate practice
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2001 Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
1989 Steptoe & Johnson LLP

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Defense Research Institute
International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
American Bar Association
INDUSTRY / CIVIC MEMBERSHIPS

Harrison County Chamber of Commerce
President, Board, Job Squad, Inc.
Bethany College Alumni Council
AWARDS / HONORS

The Best Lawyers in America®
Super Lawyers®
Associate Editor, George Mason University Law Review
PUBLICATIONS

“A Primer on ERISA’s Civil Enforcement Scheme for the Non-ERISA Lawyer,” 12 Inside Litigation No. 4, at 7 (Apr. 1998)
“Removal Jurisdiction in ERISA Cases: The Doctrine of Complete Preemption,” 4 ERISA Litigation Reporter No. 5, at 4 (Dec. 1995) (with Paul J. Ondrasik, Jr.)