Taft welcomes Patricia L. Beaty and Jessica E. Kuester to its Indianapolis office as members of the firm’s Tax practice group.

Beaty joins as a partner and brings in-depth knowledge and experience in employee benefits and executive compensation to the firm’s existing practice. She has extensive experience in all aspect of employee benefits and regularly advises clients on the tax implications of plan design and their fiduciary duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Beaty helps clients navigate complex tax and ERISA issues and represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Labor. She provides real-world guidance to clients as to best practices for managing their fiduciary obligations and maintaining the tax-qualified status of their employee benefit plans. Beaty is also a certified employee benefits specialist (CEBS), member of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA), member of the Indiana Benefits Conference (past chairperson) and a member of the American Bar Association Committee on Employee Benefits.

Beaty earned her Juris Doctor degree from Indiana University McKinney School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University.

Kuester joins as of counsel and represents employers in all of their employee benefits needs. Her experience includes advising clients on compliance issues related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) and ERISA. Kuester also advises employers on ACA compliance and responding to the Internal Revenue Service’s proposed ACA penalty assessments.

Kuester earned her Juris Doctor degree from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree from Frostburg State University.

The addition of Beaty and Kuester reaffirms Taft’s continued growth. Since Jan. 1, 2018, the number of attorneys in Taft’s Indianapolis location has grown by 20%. Firmwide, Taft has also experienced 20% growth across its nine offices.