Established ERISA/ACA Lawyer David McFarlane Joins Crowell & Moring’s Corporate Practice

Los Angeles – October 11, 2016: Crowell & Moring LLP is pleased to announce the addition of David McFarlane to the firm's Los Angeles office as a partner in the firm's Corporate, Health Care, Tax, and Labor & Employment groups. He brings more than 20 years of experience in the United States and Canada advising on pensions, employee benefits, executive compensation, national and international corporate transactions, and structured finance related to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

“We are delighted that David has joined the firm,” said James R. Stuart, co-chair of Crowell & Moring's Corporate Group. “David’s extensive corporate experience in health care reform law, ERISA, and employee benefits will be invaluable to the firm’s clients and prospective clients.”

McFarlane joins Crowell & Moring from Willis Towers Watson, a global advisory, broking, and solutions company, where he advised on pension, health and welfare plan compliance with ERISA, ACA, the Internal Revenue Code, and related state and federal laws, including certain labor and employment matters.

Before joining Willis Towers Watson, McFarlane founded Health Care Attorneys, P.C., a law firm that focuses on health care reform law under the ACA. McFarlane’s previous work experience also includes serving as a Canadian partner with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt and a senior attorney with Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom in Los Angeles.

“I am excited to join Crowell & Moring and help be a part of this vibrant and growing practice,” McFarlane said. “The firm’s broad-based practice groups provide the right fit for me, my clients, and those of the firm.”

McFarlane is the former president of the Canadian American Bar Association, Judge Pro Tem of the Superior Court of California, former vice-chair of the board of directors at Barlow Respiratory Hospital, former president of the LGBT Bar Association of Los Angeles, and former president of the Western Pension & Benefit Council (Los Angeles).

McFarlane received his J.D. from University of Windsor Law School and his B.A. in political science from McGill University. McFarlane has authored two books on employee benefits law, and he is admitted to practice in California and Ontario, Canada.

McFarlane is the third partner added to Crowell & Moring’s Corporate Group in the past several weeks. Claud v.S. “Lex” Eley, previously with Reed Smith, recently joined the firm’s Washington office, and Simon Evers, previously with Davis Polk, joined the firm’s London office.

Crowell & Moring’s Corporate Group offers a full-service practice covering complex corporate and securities, M&A transactional, governance, and compliance matters. The firm works with large international and domestic public companies, mid-sized and emerging businesses, privately held firms, private equity sponsors and hedge funds, investment firms, and high net-worth individuals across a wide range of industries.

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with approximately 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity. The firm has offices in Washington, DC, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, Anchorage, London, and Brussels.