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
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–present
Affiliations
Civic
- Seattle Arts & Lectures, Board Member, 2020–present; President, 2024–present
- Campaign for Equal Justice, Board Member, 2020–present