Erin Riley
Of Counsel
Overview
Erin Riley knows that strong relationships are the key to complex cases.
As a partner in Keller Rohrback’s Complex Litigation Group, Erin has allowed these collaborative and long-lasting relationships to inform her work for over 25 years.
Since 2001, Erin’s practice has focused on representing employees and retirees in Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) actions involving defined contribution, defined benefit, and health benefit plans.
Erin is the employee-side Co-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Employee Benefit Committee of the Labor and Employment Law Section. Previously, Erin served as a lead editor of Employee Benefits Law (Bloomberg-BNA) from 2018 to 2024. She has worked on numerous ERISA-related articles and amicus briefs, and frequently speaks at employee benefits conferences. Erin is a fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel.
Erin earned her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin, where she was an editor of the Wisconsin Law Review. Prior to joining Keller Rohrback as an attorney in 2000, she worked with the firm as a summer associate in 1999.
Outside of work, Erin enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Professional & Civic Organizations
- American Bar Association’s Employee Benefit Committee of the Labor and Employment Law Section, employee-side Co-Chair
- American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, Fellow
- Wisconsin State Bar Association, Member
- King County Bar Association, Member
- Washington State Bar Association, Member
- Civil Procedure Sub-Committee for the ABA Employee Benefits Committee, Plaintiffs’ Co-Chair, 2012 – 2016
- Employee Benefits Law (Bloomberg-BNA), Chapter Editor, 2012 – 2016
- Employee Benefits Law (Bloomberg-BNA), Senior Editor, 2016 - 2018
- Employee Benefits Law (Bloomberg-BNA), Co-Chair, Board of Senior Editors, 2018 – present
- Washington State Supreme Court, Pro Bono Publico Honor Roll, 2014 – present
Honors & Awards
- Best Lawyers in America®, Seattle, Washington, 2026 (Recognized since 2024):
- Litigation - ERISA
- Selected to Super Lawyers list in Super Lawyers – Washington, 2023-2025
- Selected to Rising Stars list in Super Lawyers – Washington, 2009
Articles & Presentations
- Br. of Amicus Curiae of Pension Rights Center in Support of Appellants, Graf v. Board of Regents of the University of California (California Court of Appeals August 11, 2025).
- Panelist, ERISA Preemption, ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits ERISA Basics Virtual Program (November 19, 2024).
- Panelist, 2023 Employee Benefits Highlights, ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law Employees Benefits Committee 2024 Midwinter meeting, San Diego, California (2024).
- Panel Moderator, Did Hughes Move the Needle? 401(k) Fee Litigation Update, ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law Employee Benefits Committee 2023 Midwinter meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana (2023).
- Quoted, Benefits Practice Group of the Year: Keller Rohrback, Law360 (February 22, 2022).
- Panelist, Current Developments in Defined Contribution Investment Litigation, ABA Live Webinar (March 23, 2022).
- Panelist, ERISA Class Actions: Plaintiff and Defense Perspectives, Western Alliance Bank ERISA Webinar (September 22, 2021).
- Quoted, Benefits Practice Group of the Year: Keller Rohrback, Law360 (December 7, 2020).
- Panelist, Defined Contribution Investment Litigation Update, ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, Employee Benefits Committee – Mid-Winter Meeting, Rancho Mirage, California (2020).
- Brief for Law Professors as Amici Curiae in Support of the Petitioners, Thole v. U.S. Bank, No. 17-1712 (U.S. 2019).
- Panelist, Arbitration: Is There Anything Different About ERISA, ABA Live Webinar (June 18, 2019).
- Speaker, Litigation Update: Two Perspectives, Western Pension & Benefits Council – Spring Seminar, Seattle, WA (2019).
- Panelist, Arbitration: What’s Different About ERISA?, ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, Employee Benefits Committee – Mid-Winter Meeting, Nashville, Tennessee (2019).
- Panelist, How to Get the Class Action Settlement Your Client Needs, ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, Employee Benefits Committee – Mid-Winter Meeting, Austin, TX (2017).
- Quoted in Jacklyn Wille, Ninth Circuit Adopts Pro-Worker Pension Framework, Pension & Benefits Daily, Bloomberg BNA (Aprril 22, 2016).
- Amgen Inc. v. Harris: What is the Status of ERISA Company Stock Cases Post-Amgen, ABA Employee Benefits Committee Newsletter (Spring 2016).
- Speaker, Supreme Court Roundup, ACI ERISA Litigation, Chicago, IL (2016).
- Panelist, Mock Mediation, ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, Employee Benefits Committee – Mid-Winter Meeting, Las Vegas, NV (2016).
- Quoted in Andrea L. Ben-Yosef, Class Action Suits on Plan Fees Steam Ahead, Pension & Benefits Blog, Bloomberg BNA (February 10, 2016).
- Br. of Amicus Curiae of Pension Rights Center in Supp. of Petition, Pundt v. Verizon Communications, No. 15-785 (2016).
- Br. of Amicus Curiae AARP and National Employment Lawyers Association in Supp. of Pls.-Appellees, Whitley v. BP, P.L.C., No. 15-20282 (5th Cir. October 28, 2015).
- Br. of The Pension Rights Center as Amicus Curiae in Supp. of Resp’t, Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins, No. 13-1339 (U.S. September 4, 2015).
- Lynn L. Sarko, Erin M. Riley, and Gretchen S. Obrist, Brief for Law Professors as Amici Curiae in Support of the Petitioners, Tibble, et al. v. Edison International, et al., No. 13-550 (U.S. 2014).
- Quoted in Jacklyn Wille, High Court to Address Statute of Limitations for Suits Challenging Retirement Plan Fees, Pension & Benefits Daily, Bloomberg BNA (Oct. 3, 2014).
- Speaker, What’s New in Fiduciary Litigation?, Western Pension & Benefits Council – 2014 Spring Seminar, Seattle, WA (2014).
- Contributor, Attorneys Reflect on 40 Years of ERISA’s Biggest Court Rulings, Pension & Benefits Daily, Bloomberg BNA, discussing CIGNA Corp. v. Amara, 131 S.Ct. 1866, 50 EBC 2569 (May 24, 2011).
- Erin M. Riley and Gretchen S. Obrist, The Impact of Fifth Third Bancorp v. Dudenhoeffer: Finally, a Court Gets it Right!, Pension & Benefits Daily, Bloomberg BNA (August 11, 2014).
- Lynn L. Sarko and Erin M. Riley, Brief for Law Professors as Amici Curiae in Support of the Respondents, Fifth Third Bancorp v. Dudenhoeffer, No. 12-751 (U.S. March 5, 2014).
- Erin M. Riley Explores the Pro-Plaintiff Aspects of the Citigroup Ruling, ERISA Litigation Tracker: Litigator Q&A, Bloomberg BNA (December 1, 2011). Reproduced with permission from ERISA Litigation Tracker Litigator Q & A (December 5, 2011). Copyright 2011 by The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. (800-372-1033).
- Sarah H. Kimberly, Erin M. Riley, Court Declines to Limit Damages in Neil v. Zell, ABA Employee Benefits Committee Newsletter (Spring 2011).
- Derek W. Loeser, Erin M. Riley and Benjamin Gould, 2010 ERISA Employer Stock Cases: The Good, the Bad, and the In-Between Plaintiffs’ Perspective, Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. (January 28, 2011).
- Derek W. Loeser and Erin M. Riley, The Case Against the Presumption of Prudence, Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. (September 10, 2010).
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