Washington, DC (February 19, 2025) – Venable LLP is pleased to announce that John Harras has joined the firm as a counsel in the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Group. Mr. Harras works with companies to resolve complex employee benefit and executive compensation issues. Specifically, he counsels clients on compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Internal Revenue Code, and relevant labor laws.
Lisa Tavares, a co-chair of the firm’s Business Division, said, “John is a skilled attorney who brings strong multiemployer experience to the firm. We are thrilled to welcome him to Venable.”
Mr. Harras consults clients on the proper design, implementation, and administration of employee benefit plans. He has significant experience advising clients on matters concerning Taft-Hartley multiemployer benefit plans, including withdrawal liability under the Multiemployer Pension Plan Amendment Act (MPPAA). He also ensures that corporate transactions, such as mergers and asset sales, are structured to avoid any employee benefits issues. In addition, Mr. Harras advises employee benefit plan sponsors on correcting plan operation and plan document errors pursuant to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System.
Mr. Harras represents clients during audits of their employee benefits plans by the U. S. Department of Labor and the IRS. He provides clients with guidance on responding to audits by multiemployer benefit funds. He also defends employers from claims of alleged violations of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, and other applicable laws, including alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, assessments of withdrawal liability, and findings of delinquent contributions owed to multiemployer plans.
Mr. Harras helps clients navigate the risks associated with successor, alter ego, or single employer liability that might arise from corporate transactions or the structure of an employer's labor-management relations. He provides guidance on employee benefits compliance for employers working on construction projects subject to prevailing wage laws, such as Article 8 of the New York Labor Law and the Davis-Bacon Act.
Commenting on his move to Venable, Mr. Harras said, “Venable’s national presence, full scope of client services, and collaborative culture attracted me to the firm. I look forward to growing my practice in the New York office.”
Mr. Harras received his J.D., cum laude, from St. John’s University of Law and his B.A., cum laude, from the College of William & Mary.
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Venable LLP is an American Lawyer Global 100 law firm headquartered in Washington, DC that serves as primary counsel to a worldwide clientele of large and mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, high-net-worth entrepreneurs, and other individuals. With more than 900 professionals across the country, including in California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Washington, DC, the firm strategically advances its clients' objectives in the United States and around the globe. Venable advises clients on a broad range of business and regulatory law, legislative affairs, complex litigation, and the full range of intellectual property disciplines. For more information, please visit venable.com.