Erin Riley
Seattle
1201 Third Avenue, Suite 3200
Seattle, WA 98101
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 20 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 has worked on numerous ERISA-related articles and amicus briefs, and frequently speaks at employee benefits conferences. She has been actively involved with the Employee Benefits Law (Bloomberg-BNA) treatise since 2012 and currently serves as the lead editor, employee-side, of the Treatise. She also previously served as Plaintiffs’ Co-Chair of the Civil Procedure Subcommittee and as a senior editor. Erin is also 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 and Civic Involvement
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
Articles & Presentations
Panel Moderator, ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law Employee Benefits Committee 2023 Midwinter meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2023 (Did Hughes Move the Needle? 401(k) Fee Litigation Update).
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 (Dec. 7, 2020).
Panelist, ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, Employee Benefits Committee – Mid-Winter Meeting, Rancho Mirage, California, 2020 (Defined Contribution Investment Litigation Update).
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, Western Pension & Benefits Council – Spring Seminar, Seattle, WA, 2019 (Litigation Update: Two Perspectives).
Panelist, ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, Employee Benefits Committee – Mid-Winter Meeting, Nashville, Tennessee, 2019 (Arbitration: What’s Different About ERISA?).
Panelist, ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, Employee Benefits Committee – Mid-Winter Meeting, Austin, TX, 2017 (How to Get the Class Action Settlement Your Client Needs).
Quoted in Jacklyn Wille, “Ninth Circuit Adopts Pro-Worker Pension Framework,” Pension & Benefits Daily, Bloomberg BNA (Apr. 22, 2016) (www.bna.com).
“Amgen Inc. v. Harris: What is the Status of ERISA Company Stock Cases Post-Amgen,” ABA Employee Benefits Committee Newsletter, Spring, 2016.
Speaker, ACI ERISA Litigation, Chicago, IL, 2016 (Supreme Court Roundup).
Panelist, ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, Employee Benefits Committee – Mid-Winter Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, 2016 (mock mediation).
Quoted in Andrea L. Ben-Yosef, “Class Action Suits on Plan Fees Steam Ahead,” Pension & Benefits Blog, Bloomberg BNA (Feb. 10, 2016) (www.bna.com).
Br. of Amicus Curiae of Pension Rights Center in Supp. of Petition, Pundt v. Verizon Communications, No. 15-785 (U.S. 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. Oct. 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. Sept. 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) (www.bna.com).
Speaker, Western Pension & Benefits Council – 2014 Spring Seminar, Seattle, WA, 2014 (What’s New in Fiduciary Litigation?).
Erin M. Riley and Gretchen S. Obrist, Contributors, “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 (U.S. 2011) (95 PBD, 5/17/11; 38 BPR 990, 5/24/11) (www.bna.com).
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 (154 PBD, 8/11/2014) (www.bna.com).
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 (Dec. 1, 2011). Reproduced with permission from ERISA Litigation Tracker Litigator Q & A (Dec. 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. (Jan. 28, 2011).
Derek W. Loeser and Erin M. Riley, “The Case Against the Presumption of Prudence”, Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. (Sept. 10, 2010).
Let's Talk About Your Case