Jacquelyn Meng Abbott

Jacquie Abbott is of counsel in the Vorys’ Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group.  Her practice focuses on employee benefits and related federal compensation tax matters.  Jacquie is a frequent speaker on recent developments and is currently co-chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Taxation Welfare Benefits Subcommittee.  Jacquie has extensive experience in employee benefit vendor contracting.  She also provides legal advice to human resource and corporate financial services leaders on employee benefits and employment tax laws including MHPAEA, CAA, ERISA, ADEA, ADA, GINA, FMLA, COBRA, ACA, HIPAA, and other applicable federal laws.

More recently, as supervising tax counsel at Exxon Mobil Corporation, she was responsible for legal compliance of medical, dental, life insurance and disability plans. In addition, she advised on payroll tax matters.  Prior to joining ExxonMobil, she was in-house counsel at Lincoln Financial Group for more than two decades with similar responsibilities.

Career highlights include:

• providing legal counsel related to the drafting and negotiating benefit plan vendor contracts (fully insured and administrative services only)
• advising numerous stakeholders on compliance issues related to the Affordable Care Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act
• advising on the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on employer provided fringe benefits
• served as chair of the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) health policy committee

Jacquie is a member of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation, where she serves as the co-chair of the section’s Subcommittee on Welfare Plan and EEOC, FMLA and Leave Issues.

Jacquie has presented and has been published on a number of employee benefits related topics including: what should the ERISA qualifications of an annuity purchased by an employer in the face of the Executive Life insolvency; ERISA: Ten Years After, “Plan Asset Reversions;” and developments in the life insurance industry.

Jacquie received her J.D. from The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law. She received her B.A. with honors from Bowling Green State University.

Honors & Recognitions

Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year, Houston Volunteer lawyers Program, 2010

Professional & Community Activities

Welfare Benefit Plans, American Bar Association Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law, Vice-Chair

ERISA Industry Committee, Chair, Health Policy Committee, 2008-2012; Member, Retirement Committee and Health Policy Committee

American Bar Association — Section of Taxation Co-Chair, Subcommittee on Welfare Plan and EEOC, FMLA and Leave Issues, 2020-present; Chair, Corporate Counsel Committee, 2012-2019

American Council of Life Insurance, Member, Risk Classification Committee, 1988-1990; Member, Task Force on Fiduciary Matters, 1980-1996; Member, Joint Committee with Health Insurance Association of America on Task Force on the Application of ERISA to Welfare Benefit Plans, 1994-1996; Member of Task Force working on DOL general account regulations, 1980-1999

Indiana State Bar Association, Member, Board of Governors, 1991-1993; Chair, Long Range Planning Committee, 1996-1997; House of Delegates Representative for the Fourth District, Member, 1993-1999; Fellow, Indiana Bar Foundation

School District's Music Booster Organization, Treasurer

Ft. Wayne Philharmonic Women's Committee, Board of Directors, Counsel

Limberlost Girl Scout Council, Leader

YWCA Woman of Achievement, Member

Junior Achievement, Project Business Consultant