Barnes & Thornburg Adds Two Employee Benefits Partners in Atlanta

ATLANTA (April 24, 2025) – Barnes & Thornburg is pleased to announce that Tiffany Downs and Matthew D. Grabell have joined the firm’s Atlanta office as partners in its Labor and Employment Department and Employee Benefits Practice.

“With labor and employment regulations constantly shifting, employers need clear, strategic guidance to stay ahead. This increasingly is evident with regard to employee benefit and executive compensation issues,” said Kenneth J. Yerkes, chair of Barnes & Thornburg’s Labor and Employment Department. “Tiffany and Matt bring the experience and foresight our clients need to navigate this evolving landscape and achieve their business goals in 2025 and beyond.”

Downs is a trusted advisor to employers on all aspects of employee benefits and executive compensation. She counsels clients on the design, implementation, and administration of health and welfare plans, retirement plans, and executive compensation programs. Her practice includes providing fiduciary and HIPAA training, guiding plan sponsors through compliance challenges, and developing strategies to mitigate litigation risk. When disputes arise, she defends clients in a wide range of benefits-related litigation under ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and the Mental Health Parity Act.

With extensive experience in transactional matters, Downs supports employers through the due diligence process in mergers and acquisitions and helps navigate post-deal integration and compliance. She also advises on privacy compliance under evolving federal and state laws. Prior to private practice, Downs served with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, bringing valuable regulatory insight to her work.

Grabell offers legal counsel to employers on a wide range of employment and employee benefits matters, with extensive experience defending employers throughout all stages of ERISA-related litigation, including cases involving breach of fiduciary duty, prohibited transactions, wrongful denial of benefits, ESOP litigation, and ERISA §510 claims. In addition to his litigation practice, he regularly advises employers on matters related to COBRA compliance, health and welfare plan compliance, retirement and incentive plans, executive compensation, severance plans, and general plan administration and compliance. Grabell also regularly assists employers with issues related to multiemployer benefit funds, including but not limited to contribution disputes, payroll compliance audits, and withdrawal liability.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Tiffany and Matt to our team,” said John T.L. Koenig, managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg’s Atlanta office. “Their extensive experience across a broad range of benefits and ERISA matters makes them invaluable assets to our clients and our team of attorneys in Atlanta’s vibrant and growing business community.”

Downs earned her J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law and her B.A. from the University of Louisiana. Grabell earned his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and his B.A. from DePaul University.

With more than 800 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Atlanta, Boston, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, South Florida, Texas and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com.