Bradford P. Campbell

Counsel

Washington D.C.

(202) 230-5159 phone
(202) 842-8465 fax

Bradford P. Campbell concentrates his practice in employee benefits and ERISA litigation, specializing in ERISA Title I issues, including fiduciary conduct and prohibited transactions.

A nationally-recognized figure in employer-sponsored retirement, health and other welfare benefit plans, Brad is the former Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits and head of the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

As ERISA's former "top cop" and primary federal regulator, he provides his clients with insight and knowledge across a broad range of ERISA-plan related issues.  He also serves as an expert witness in ERISA litigation.  Brad was listed as one of the 100 Most Influential Persons in Defined Contribution by 401kWire in 2011.

Brad counsels financial service providers and plan sponsors in ERISA compliance.  Recent work for clients included assisting in the development of a collective investment trust, creating a fiduciary training program for plan officials, resolving DOL and IRS audits and investigations, and reviewing and modifying service provider and plan disclosure documents for compliance with new regulations.  Brad also has an active regulatory practice, assisting clients in analyzing and offering comments on significant regulations, including the redefinition of fiduciary investment advice and proposals related to lifetime income products.

During his years in government, Brad played a key role in every significant ERISA retirement and health reform of the prior decade, and his regulatory and policy decisions had a fundamental impact on the structure and operation of ERISA plans. 

Prior to serving as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits, Brad held a number of other senior positions in the government, including Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits, Senior Legislative Officer for the Department of Labor, Legislative Director for then-Congressman Ernest Fletcher, and Senior Legislative Assistant for then-Congressman, later SEC Chairman Cox.

Representative Matters

While Assistant Secretary, Brad:

  • Orchestrated implementation of the most sweeping changes to pension regulations in 30 years, issuing nearly 30 regulations and major guidance documents.
  • Issued final regulations establishing Qualified Default Investment Alternatives (QDIAs) to facilitate automatic enrollment in defined contribution plans.
  • Proposed the original 408(b)(2) service provider and 404(a)(5) participant disclosure regulations.
  • Issued final regulations improving participant access to professional investment advice.
  • Issued final regulations requiring enhanced and electronic disclosure of plan expense and fee information on the Form 5500, Schedule C.
  • Directed policy in major litigation, including DOL’s amicus briefs in RILA v. Fielder and LaRue v. DeWolff.
  • Negotiated with Congress to modify final genetic discrimination and mental health parity legislation.
  • Issued final HIPAA regulations governing wellness programs and nondiscrimination requirements.
  • Administered an enforcement program resulting in more than $2.6 billion in monetary results and more than 200 criminal indictments.

Publications

04/03/2013
April 2013 Edition
Plan Sponsor Newsletter
11/01/2012
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Client Bulletin
ERISA Newsletter for Retirement Plan Service Providers
10/03/2012
Journal of Pension Benefits
ERISA Compliance Issues for Plan Providers: The DOL Consultant/Adviser Project
05/10/2012
Investment Management Bulletin
The Final 408(b)(2) Regulation: Impact on Investment Managers
1/1/2010
The ASPPA Journal
Schedule C--A New Era in Annual Reporting
1/1/2009
TaxEB InBrief
A Man With Many Plans

Speaking Engagements

06/18/2013
IRI 2013 Government, Legal & Regulatory Conference
SEC and DOL Fiduciary Initiatives
10/11/2012
Drinker Biddle Webcast
What Plan Committees Must Do With 408(b)(2) Disclosures
08/16/2012
Drinker Biddle Webinar
Inside the Beltway
06/26/2012
IRI 2012 Government, Legal & Regulatory Conference
DOL Fiduciary Update
04/30/2012
T. Rowe Price 2012 Forum
3/19/2012
ASPPA 401(k) Summit
3/13/2012
Thornburg Investment Management 2012 Fiduciary Training Symposium
3/1/2012
Boston University School of Law

While Assistant Secretary, Brad:

  • Orchestrated implementation of the most sweeping changes to pension regulations in 30 years, issuing nearly 30 regulations and major guidance documents.
  • Issued final regulations establishing Qualified Default Investment Alternatives (QDIAs) to facilitate automatic enrollment in defined contribution plans.
  • Proposed the original 408(b)(2) service provider and 404(a)(5) participant disclosure regulations.
  • Issued final regulations improving participant access to professional investment advice.
  • Issued final regulations requiring enhanced and electronic disclosure of plan expense and fee information on the Form 5500, Schedule C.
  • Directed policy in major litigation, including DOL’s amicus briefs in RILA v. Fielder and LaRue v. DeWolff.
  • Negotiated with Congress to modify final genetic discrimination and mental health parity legislation.
  • Issued final HIPAA regulations governing wellness programs and nondiscrimination requirements.
  • Administered an enforcement program resulting in more than $2.6 billion in monetary results and more than 200 criminal indictments.