PRACTICE AREAS

Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation

Ms. Grace is an associate in the Firm's General Business practice, focusing on federal and state regulation of employee benefit plans, as well as state of the art risk management, plan design and ERISA litigation. Ms. Grace assists various types of clients ranging from individual plan participants to employers, HR professionals and plan service providers. She is knowledgeable in the areas of qualified and non-qualified retirement and executive compensation plans and various types of welfare plans including cafeteria plans. Ms. Grace is also experienced in common, but complex areas of ERISA litigation-such as the doctrine of ERISA preemption.

Due to her familiarity with the Department of Labor, Ms. Grace is effective at assisting clients faced with DOL involvement. She also works with plans to proactively ensure document and procedural compliance with ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA and other laws affecting employee benefits.

COMMUNITY AND BAR INVOLVEMENT

Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association

Employee Benefits Committee

American Bar Association

NOTABLE EXPERIENCE

Before joining the firm, Ms. Grace was employed at Haynes Benefits PC (an employee benefits law firm) as well as the United States Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration where she served as a student investigator and benefits advisor. At this position she also assisted in the thorough auditing of employers for compliance with ERISA, HIPAA and COBRA. The audits encompassed a variety of plans including Employee Stock Ownership Plans, 401(k) Plans, Defined Benefit Plans, Welfare Plans, Union Plans, SIMPLE IRA Plans, Vacation Plans and Prescription Drug Benefit Plans.

Ms. Grace earned her law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2006, where she was active in the Kansas City Tax Clinc and graduated as the top tax student.

EDUCATION

J.D., Dean's List, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, 2006,

Top tax student; Association of Women Law Students

B.S., Business Management, cum Laude; Dean's List, Missouri State University, 2003, Sigma Iota Epsilon National Honor Fraternity

BAR ADMISSIONS

Missouri, 2006