Patricia L. Beaty

Patricia is a partner in Taft’s Tax practice group. With previous experience advising non-profits, religious organizations, hospitals and healthcare systems and manufacturers, Patricia brings in-depth knowledge in employee benefits and executive compensation to Taft. Patricia has extensive experience in the design, implementation and administration of single employer and multi-employer-defined benefit plans, money purchase, profit sharing, stock bonus, employee stock ownership, 401(k) and 403(b) plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans and retention plans. Patricia also advises clients on the design, implementation and administration of group health plans, Health Savings Accounts, Health Reimbursement Accounts, Section 125 “cafeteria” plans, Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association (VEBA) trusts and Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements (MEWA).

Patricia regularly represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Labor. She provides guidance and training on fiduciary duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs), the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) issues (including private causes of action), health savings accounts (HSA), the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other employee benefits. She is also a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) and a member of the American Bar Association’s Committee on Employee Benefits. Patricia is a frequent local and national speaker on employee benefit topics.

• Lorman Education Services Webinar, “Safe Harbor 401(k) Notices” (Sept. 29, 2022)
• “Is the Claims Administrator for Your Group Health Plan Engaging in Cross-Plan Offsetting for Its Own Benefit at the Expense of Your Employees?” Journal of Pension Benefits, Volume 27, Number 4, Summer 2020.
• International Society of Certified Employee Benefits Specialists (ISCEBS) U.S. Employer Outlook: Benefits Strategies for the Future Conference, “401(k) Litigation is Moving to Smaller Plans: Learn Best Practices to Avoid Being the Next Target,” (Sept. 1-3, 2020 and Sept. 8-10, 2020)
• Lorman Education Services Webinar, “DOL Update on Multiple Employer Retirement Plans,” (Jan. 21, 2020)
• Taft Indianapolis Employment Law Annual Seminar, “401(K) Fee Litigation-Are Your Prepared?” (Nov. 15, 2019)
• Taft Columbus Employment & Labor Relations Annual Seminar, “401(K) Fee Litigation-Are You Prepared?” (Oct. 29, 2019)
• Lorman Education Services Webinar, “Changes of Status Checklist” (Sept. 24, 2019)
• Lorman Education Services Webinar, “Managing Your 401(k) Plan: A Day in the Life of a Health 401(k) Plan” (Feb. 7, 2019)
• Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Symposium, “Navigating the Minefields of Auto-Enrollment and Auto-Escalation” (May 8, 2018)
• Lorman Education Services Webinar, “Mergers and Acquisitions: Employee Benefits Due Diligence Checklist” (March 28, 2018)
• National Business institute, “Buying and Selling a Business-HR Due Diligence Insights and Tips from an ERISA Attorney” (Dec. 11, 2017)
• White Oak Advisors, LLC, Fiduciary Summit expert panelist (Oct. 3, 2017)
• Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce Employee Benefits Seminar, “Is Your Plan Vaccinated’ Against the Epidemic of Plan Fee Litigation?” (Sept. 19, 2017)
• Tri-State Actuarial Club Meeting, “Current Pension-Related Litigation” (Sept. 18, 2017)
• Lorman Education Services Webinar, “IRS Determination Letter: Recent changes and New Guidance” (July 27, 2017)
• National Business Institute, “Buying and Selling a Business-HR Due Diligence Insights and Tips from an ERISA Attorney” (Dec. 13, 2016)
• Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce Employee Benefits Seminar, “The Buck Stops Here: Facing the Fiduciary Challenge; Impact of the New Overtime Rules on Employee Benefits” (Sept. 13, 3016)
• National Business Institute, “The Affordable Care Act and Other Developments in Employment Law (Federal and State)” and “Benefits: Health Insurance, Flex Spending and Retirement Plans; Modifications to the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA); Changes to Flexible Spending Accounts; Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)-Pitfalls to be Way of” (May 20, 2016)
• Lorman Educational Services webinar, “IRS and DOL Audits Happen—How Employers can be Prepared” (April 6, 2016)