Brian M. Pinheiro is the Practice Leader of Ballard Spahr's Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group and has served as Chair of the firm's Business and Transactions Department. He is the firm’s Managing Partner for Finance and Operations.
Brian represents for-profit, tax-exempt, church, and government employers on matters relating to executive compensation, including Section 409A and the Section 280G golden parachute rules; tax-qualified retirement plans, including cash balance pension plans; 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans; and health and welfare benefit plans.
Services
- Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation
- Business and Transactions
- Health Care
- Health Care Reform
- Education
- Investment Management
- Infrastructure
- Privacy and Data Security
- Emerging Companies and Venture Capital
- HIPAA Compliance
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Private Equity
- Gaming
- Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
- Agribusiness
- Tax Controversy
- Life Sciences
Professional Highlights
Professional Activities
American Bar Association
District of Columbia Bar Association
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law, Adjunct Professor, courses on employee benefits policy and tax-qualified retirement plans
Recognition & Accomplishments
The Legal 500 US, Labor and Employment - Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation, and Retirement Plans - Design, 2019-2024
Chambers USA, Labor and Employment: Employee Benefits and Compensation Law, 2006-2024
The Best Lawyers in America, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, 2010-2025, "Lawyer of the Year," Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (Philadelphia), 2020 and 2024
Speaking Engagements
Frequent lecturer on employee benefits issues and at firm-sponsored seminars for clients as well as seminars sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Lorman Educational Services, and the Public Employer Labor Relations Advisory Service
Presenter, "GPBCH Employer’s Forum - Q&A with the Experts: A COVID-19 Update," Ballard Spahr webinar, April 16, 2020
Presenter, "Paid Leave and Other Legal Considerations for the COVID-19 Pandemic," Ballard Spahr webinar, April 2, 2020
Board Memberships & Community Service
Board of Trustees, Settlement Music School, the largest community school of the arts in the United States
PENJERDEL Employee Benefits and Compensation Association (PEBA)
Related Insights
Credentials
Education
The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law (J.D. 1995, magna cum laude)
Production Editor, Catholic University Law Review
Georgetown University Law Center (LL.M. 1997, with distinction; Certificate in Employee Benefits)
Boston College (B.A. 1992)
Admissions
Pennsylvania