Ron Bradshaw
Ron is a founding member of Bradshaw & Bickerton PLLC and formerly practiced at Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. He has over 20 years of experience practicing employee benefits, ERISA, executive compensation, and tax law. Ron is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for employee benefits (ERISA) law.
Maria Elena Bickerton
Maria is a founding member of Bradshaw & Bickerton PLLC and formerly practiced at Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. She has over 15 years of experience practicing employee benefits, ERISA, executive compensation, and tax law. Maria is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for employee benefits (ERISA) law.
Education and Professional Background
- University of Texas School of Law, J.D. with highest honors, 2001 (Chancellors; Order of the Coif; Texas Law Review)
- University of Texas, B.A. Latin American Studies with highest honors, 1997 (Phi Beta Kappa; Golden Key National Honor Society)
- Judicial clerk to The Honorable Betty B. Fletcher, U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2001-2002
- Admitted to practice: Texas, 2001
- Other Language: Fluent in Spanish
Professional Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America® in employee benefits (ERISA) law, 2013-2024
- The Best Lawyers® 2016 Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Austin
- "Texas Rising Star" in employee benefits/ERISA law (a Thompson Reuters service published in Texas Monthly), 2006-2007, 2009, 2014-2015
Representative Experience
- Advised clients on a variety of Affordable Care Act matters, including employer shared responsibility, health reform mandates, and new reporting issues
- Advised client with respect to spin-offs, mergers, and terminations of numerous 401(k) plans as a result of business reorganization
- Represented clients in IRS determination letter filings for qualified plans, including 401(k) plans, cash balance plans, and other defined benefit plans
- Represented clients in the correction of qualification failures of 401(k) plans through the Internal Revenue Service's Employee Plan Compliance Resolution System
- Assisted national and international companies with Internal Revenue Code section 409A compliance
- Assisted Fortune 500 company with various ERISA welfare plan compliance issues
- Represented clients in corporate transactions by conducting due diligence, reviewing and revising merger agreements, and analyzing tax and ERISA consequences with respect to the employee benefits/executive compensation issues involved in such transactions
- Assisted Fortune 500 company with significant restatement of its defined benefit and defined contribution plans
- Advised clients with respect to negotiating, drafting, amending, and interpreting employee benefits, compensation, and severance provisions in employment agreements
- Served as ERISA counsel on litigation teams representing Fortune 500 company in defense of ERISA class actions
Laura P. Irani
Laura has over 15 years of experience in employee benefits, ERISA, and tax law. She formerly practiced at Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. Laura is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for employee benefits (ERISA) law.
Education and Professional Background
- The University of Texas School of Law, J.D. with high honors, 2000 (Chancellors; Order of the Coif; Texas Law Review)
- Drew University, B.A. summa cum laude, 1997
- Admitted to practice: Texas, 2000
Professional Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America® for employee benefits (ERISA) law, 2016-2024
- The Best Lawyers in America® Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Austin, 2018
- The Best Lawyers in America® “Women in the Law,” 2016
Representative Experience
- Advised clients with regard to welfare plan compliance matters, including Affordable Care Act, HIPAA, COBRA, and ERISA compliance
- Assisted Fortune 500 company with benefit plan comprehensive vendor contract review and negotiation
- Assisted clients with design, development, and compliance of onsite/workplace health clinics
- Assisted clients with re-design and implementation of 403(b) program
- Counseled Fortune 500 client with regard to issues arising from welfare plan claims reviews, including defense of provider claims
- Assisted clients with drafting of welfare and retirement plan documents
- Assisted clients with regard to state and federal taxation of domestic partner health benefits
- Represented clients in determination letter filings
- Represented clients in excise tax filings
- Assisted clients in development of programs for reduction of health care costs
Education and Professional Background
Professional Recognition
Representative Experience