Education
Syracuse University College of Law, J.D., 2009
- Magna Cum Laude
- Associate Notes Editor, Syracuse Law Review
Frostburg State University
B.S., 2004
Bar Admissions
State
Maryland (2009)
District of Columbia (2010)
Indiana (2015)
Pennsylvania (2022)
SENIOR counsel
Email: Jkuester@islerdare.com
Jessica E. Kuester is Senior Counsel at IslerDare PC. Prior to joining the firm in February 2023, Jessica was Of Counsel at Ogletree Deakins.
Jessica practices in all areas of employee benefits law. Her diverse practice includes advising businesses on a broad range of compliance, administration, and plan design issues for all types of employee benefit plans, including qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, as well as health and welfare benefit plans. She has successfully represented clients in plan audits and has negotiated favorable resolutions with the IRS, DOL, and other federal agencies.
Jessica regularly advises clients in all aspects of health and welfare plan compliance. She partners with employers to design and implement comprehensive benefit programs that meet the company’s goals while being compliant with relevant laws. Jessica routinely answers questions related to the Affordable Care Act, HIPAA, and COBRA—both in the context of proactive compliance and in response to participant and government inquiries. In addition, Jessica assists plan administrators with routine plan administration, including evaluating qualified medical child support orders, running annual HIPAA trainings, and assisting with Affordable Care Act reporting.
Jessica also advises employers on all aspects of retirement plan compliance, including reviewing plan documents, correcting plan errors through Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor programs, and administering qualified domestic relations orders. Jessica has experience with 401(k) plans, traditional pension plans, 403(b) plans, and 457 plans.
In addition to providing compliance support, Jessica has extensive experience on the business side of benefits. She supports clients in corporate transactions by negotiating benefits-related deal terms and advising on post-closing integration. Jessica regularly reviews and negotiates vendor contracts, HIPAA business associate agreements, and stop loss insurance contracts.
Professional and Community Involvement
Bar Associations
American Bar Association
District of Columbia Bar
Maryland State Bar Association
Professional Activities
Past Chair, Great Lakes Area Tax Exempt/Government Entities Council
Publications
ERISA Group Health Plans: Recent Fee Litigation Creates Opportunities to Strengthen Fiduciary Oversight
Employee Benefits Update (August 2024)
Isler Dare EBU Health and Welfare Roundup
Employee Benefits Update (July 2024)
Retirement Plans: Grab Bag Guidance for SECURE 2.0
Employee Benefits Update (March 2024)
Isler Dare 2024 Benefit Plan Compliance Calendar
Employee Benefits Update (February 2024)
IRS Announces 2024 Benefit and Contribution Limits
Employee Benefits Update (November 2023)
Tri-Agencies Issue Wave of Guidance Focusing on Compliance with MHPAEA
Employee Benefits Update (August 2023)
Isler Dare EBU Health and Welfare Roundup
Employee Benefits Update (July 2023)
Roundup of Recent Developments Impacting Health and Welfare Plans
Employee Benefits Update (February 2023)
So You Missed the IRS’s Preapproved 401(k) Plan Restatement Deadline – Now What?
SHRM Online (August 2022)
Legislation Increases Employee Health Plan Transparency
SHRM Online (January 2021)
Spurred by Covid-19 Emergency, IRS Issues Cafeteria Plan Relief
Lorman Education Services (August 2020)
MEDIA QUOTES
Employers Turn to Stricter Vaccines Rules as Virus Surges
Law360 (August 2021)
Agencies Seek Employer’s Comments on Reporting Drug Costs
SHRM Online (June 2021)
Can Companies Legally Mandate Vaccines for Their Employees?
BRINK (June 2021)
Goldman Sachs Requires its U.S. Employees to Report their Vaccination Status
The New York Times (June 2021)
University of Pennsylvania requiring all faculty, staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19
6ABC (June 2021)
The E.E.O.C. Explains How Companies Can Mandate Vaccines For Workers
The New York Times (June 2021)
Coronavirus Puts Pressure on Telemedicine Issues for HSAs
Tax Notes (March 2020)
Professional / Continuing Education Presentations
IslerDare Annual Benefits Client Seminar: What Benefit Plan Professionals Need to Know for 2024 (May 2024)
IslerDare Annual Benefits Client Seminar: SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022: What Employers Need to Know (March 2023)
Indiana Chamber of Commerce Employee Benefits Virtual Recorded Seminar: The Impact of the Pandemic on Employer Health and Welfare Benefit Plans” and “Updating Your Retirement Plans for the CARES Act and SECURE Act
(June 2020)
54th Annual Human Resources Conference & Expo: Wellness Programs in 2018 and Beyond
(May 2018)
Joint TE/GE Council Employee Plans & Exempt Organizations Annual Meeting: QDRO Fees in Defined Benefit Plans
(February 2018)
Lorman Webinar: IRS Determination Letters: Recent Changes and New Guidance
(July 2017)