Founding Partners Robert K. Butterfield and Marc S. Schechter have been included in the 2021 San Diego Super Lawyers list. This is a first for Mr. Butterfield, and this is Mr. Schechter's ninth year to be included on the list of Super Lawyers. Mr. Butterfield specializes in employee benefits, ERISA, and estate planning. Mr. Schechter specializes in employee benefits, ERISA, and business matters, with special emphasis on ESOP transactions. Mr. Schechter is admitted to practice before the courts of California and New Jersey; the United States District Court for the Southern, Central, and Northern Districts of California; the United States Tax Court; the Ninth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals; and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the Employee Benefits-Taxation Section, State Bar of California; Taxation Section, San Diego County Bar Association; and a former member of the Legislative and Regulatory Advisory Committee, ESOP Association of America.
Partner Corey F. Schechter has been recognized on the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list in 2016 and 2018-2021. Mr. Schechter's practice focuses on employee benefits law (ERISA) and executive compensation matters, ERISA litigation, qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs), and business and employment law. Mr. Schechter is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Southern, Central, and Northern Districts of California, the United States Tax Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is a current member of the San Diego County Bar Association, the Western Pension and Benefits Council—San Diego Chapter, and the Business Law and Tax Law sections of the State Bar of California.
This is Partner Paul D. Woodard's second year to be recognized and included on the Super Lawyer's Rising Stars list. Mr. Woodard's practice focuses on employee benefits law, employee stock ownership plan, pension, profit sharing and 401(k) plans, ERISA litigation, business law and litigation, qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs), estate planning and trust litigation. Mr. Woodard is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Southern, Central, and Eastern Districts of California; the United States Tax Court; and the Ninth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals. Mr. Woodard also serves as President of the Western Pension & Benefits Council, San Diego Chapter Executive Committee, co-chair of the Wills for Heroes, San Diego Chapter, and as an At-Large Board Member of the San Diego County Bar Association's Community Service Committee. Since 2017, Paul has served as Co-Vice President for Corporate Relations of the Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce.
About Super Lawyers
Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.
About Rising Stars
The selection process for the Rising Stars list is the same as the Super Lawyers selection process, with one exception: to be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less.