Overview

Kiran Griffith advises clients on employee benefits matters, including plan design and drafting, benefits strategy and innovation, and regulatory compliance. Kiran has extensive experience advising public and private sector employers, associations, and boards of trustees, as well as service providers in the health and wellness space. Her practice focuses on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), health care transparency (including the No Surprises Act), mental health parity, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, the Internal Revenue Code, and other federal and state laws that impact employer-sponsored benefit designs and administration.

Kiran counsels clients in connection with self-funded health plans, high-deductible health plans, cafeteria plans, health savings accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, flexible spending accounts, wellness programs, employee assistance programs, and other vendor point solutions in the health and wellness space. She also advises clients on ERISA and trustee fiduciary matters relating to health and welfare plans. In addition, Kiran has experience with HIPAA privacy and security matters for health plan benefits, including virtual or remote health care services, data-sharing strategies, and risk mitigation.

Earlier in her career, Kiran was a senior compliance manager with a business learning consultancy firm, where she worked with in-house counsel to resolve compliance and business issues.

Education

Seattle University School of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, 2013; Lead Articles Editor, Seattle University Law Review

University of Texas at Austin, B.A., Government, 2003, with high honors

Admissions

Washington

Insights

Insights & Presentations

  • “Post-COVID Health and Welfare Plan 2024 Update,” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, November 8, 2023
  • “Breaking Down Walls: How to Have an Impact on the Equity, Inclusion and Eradication of Bias in the Practice of Law,” Washington State Society of Healthcare Attorneys, November 4, 2022
  • “Health & Welfare Benefits, Checklist—Compliance with DOL Final Regulations on Association Health Plans,” Bloomberg Law, September 13, 2018
  • “Jumping Through the Hoops of Wellness Program Legal Compliance,” National League of Cities Risk Information Sharing Consortium, St. Pete’s Beach, FL, November 2016
  • “ACA/Obamacare: What Employers Need to Know,” Sterling Education Services Beyond the Basics Seminar, Anchorage, AK, October 2015
  • “Wellness Programs,” Western Pension & Benefits Conference Health, Welfare and Benefits Symposium, Portland, OR, January 2015
  • “Health Care Reform: Version 2.0,” Stoel Rives LLP, Anchorage, AK, June 2014

Speaking Engagements

Recognition

  • Selected as one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” (Washington) by Chambers USA (Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation), 2023
  • Included in Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch in America (Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law), 2021–2024

Affiliations

Civic

  • Seattle Arts & Lectures, 2020–present; Vice President, Board Member, 2022–present
  • Campaign for Equal Justice, Board Member, 2020–present

Industries

  • As stated by employee benefits clients, “Kiran provides excellent customer service.”

    “She is a brilliant lawyer who is a great communicator.” (Chambers USA)

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