Melanie Nussdorf

Partner

• mnussdorf@steptoe.com
• vCard
• Washington Office

Melanie Nussdorf is a partner in the Washington office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where she is a member of the Tax and Employee Benefits groups.

Her practice spans the entire range of employee benefits, from the tax-based rules for qualified pension plans, to fiduciary issues, welfare benefits, and plan termination.  Ms. Nussdorf's particular focus over the last several years has been fiduciary issues, including prohibited transaction exemption questions under ERISA, especially in connection with financial products.  Ms. Nussdorf represents a number of financial institutions including major banks, brokerage houses, and insurance companies.  In addition, she has particular experience in all aspects of the plan termination process, including issues of employer liability for poorly funded plans terminating in or outside of a bankruptcy proceeding.  She has done substantial work on ERISA issues relating to hedge funds and private equity vehicles.  She also has substantial experience with the exemption and advisory opinion process under ERISA and has worked extensively on legislative issues related to ERISA.

Ms. Nussdorf was counsel for age and sex discrimination at the Department of Labor prior to serving as Executive Assistant to the Solicitor of Labor from 1977-81.  During this period, she had significant oversight responsibility for the department's legal work under ERISA.  From 1981-84, she served as Special Counsel at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Noteworthy

• Listed in Best Lawyers of America 2008 for Employee Benefits Law
• Listed in Washington, DC, Super Lawyers 2007 for Employee Benefits/ERISA
• Ranked #1 Attorney Chambers USA 2007, America's Leading Business Lawyers; Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (District of Columbia)

News

• Best Lawyers in America Honors 43 Steptoe Attorneys
• Chambers and Partners Names Steptoe A Leading Firm in 22 Practice Areas
• 17 DC Attorneys Listed in Super Lawyers 2007
• Best Lawyers in America 2007 Lists Steptoe Attorneys
• Over 20 Make 2007 Best Lawyers in America: DC List
• Steptoe Attorneys Acclaimed by Peers

Speaking Engagements

• Melanie Nussdorf Discusses Latest Developments at the PLI Pension Plan Investments 2007 Conference, May 3, 2007
• Melanie Nussdorf, Eric Serron at SIFMA Savings & Retirement Symposium, March 2, 2007

Publications

• ERISA Update - Leber v. Citigroup, Inc. and Gipson v. Wells Fargo & Co.
  December 11, 2007
• ERISA Advisory - Update on Cases Challenging Allegedly Excessive Fees Paid By Participant-Directed Individual Account Plans
  September 6, 2007
• ERISA-Based Class Actions Attack Fees Charged to 401(k) Plans: But Are They Really Just Excessive Fee Cases?
  November 22, 2006