A graduate of Indiana University School of Law, Mr. Schmits' practice has been devoted exclusively to employee benefit plan and executive compensation matters arising under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. Mr. Schmits regularly advises and assists plan sponsors with the design, installation, qualification, and administration of pension and welfare benefit plans and nonqualified deferred compensation and incentive plans. He has substantial experience in the litigation of a wide variety of ERISA-related matters in the Federal courts. He also has significant experience in the welfare benefit plan area. He represents clients before the U.S. Department of Labor who are seeking administrative exemptions from ERISA's prohibited transaction provisions. He also counsels employee benefit plan fiduciaries with respect to their ERISA fiduciary responsibilities; sponsors and administrators of such plans with respect to their ERISA reporting and disclosure obligations both to plan participants and to the Department of Labor; and plan sponsors and fiduciaries subject to field audits by the Department of Labor. He regularly advises employers as to handling of claims for benefits by employees. Mr. Schmits also advises employers regarding continuation coverage requirements under COBRA and their obligations with respect to employee benefit plans under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).