Joseph A. Garofolo has broad knowledge and experience as a litigator and transactional attorney in the fields of employee benefits and business law. Joe believes that aggressive and diligent representation is critical to protect client interests in litigation and transactional settings. He also has practical experience, having acted as a fiduciary with respect to benefit plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and businesses.
Joe received a 2012 California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year (CLAY) Award from California Lawyer magazine and has been selected to the Northern California Super Lawyers list since 2014. More information regarding the CLAY Award can be accessed here.
In the field of employee benefits, Joe has advised clients on fiduciary compliance, service provider arrangements, and other issues relating to the design, management, and administration of retirement and health and welfare plans. In the field of business law, he has served as counsel with regard to various matters, including owner disagreements and business dissolution, contract disputes and negotiation, alleged unfair business practices, and non-compete provisions.
Joe has represented businesses, participants and beneficiaries, service providers, plan sponsors, investment advisers, and medical providers. He has significant experience with complex litigation, including class actions. Joe has appeared as counsel in California state court and in federal courts in California, Alabama, Arizona, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia. He has extensive appellate experience and has successfully argued before an en banc panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (video of the argument is available here). Joe has also been retained as an expert witness in federal and state court litigation.
Excerpt of Joe’s oral argument in 2011 before an en banc panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Tel: (415) 981-9775
Fax: (415) 981-8870
E-mail: jgarofolo@garofololaw.com
Supreme Court of the United States
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S.D.C. for the Northern District of California
U.S.D.C. for the Central District of California
State Bar of California
California Real Estate Broker (inactive)
2012 California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year Award (Employee Benefits)
Selected to 2014 – 2023 Northern California Super Lawyers List
Professional Associations
American Bar Association
International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
National Center for Employee Ownership
Western Pension & Benefits Council
J.D., University of Michigan Law School
B.S., Bus. Admin., University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business
Group Benefits Associate, IFEBP & Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
American Bar Association
International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
National Center for Employee Ownership
Western Pension & Benefits Council
Garofolo & Ramsdell, LLP was founded by two experienced attorneys who share the belief that hard work is one of the most important aspects of practicing law. We handle a wide variety of business law and employee benefits issues in litigation and transactional settings. Although based in California, we have a national practice.