Class Action & Mass Torts

J.J. Conway named to inaugural Michigan Legal 250   Media Contact: Barbara M. Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; [email protected]; 248.260.8466Royal Oak, Mich. — August 25, 2026 — Employee benefits litigator and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) attorney J.J. Conway, founder of Michigan-based J.J. Conway Law, has been named to the debut Michigan Legal 250 list. Published for the first time by legal trade publication, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, the Michigan Legal 250 is described by the publication as a “…curated list celebrating attorneys for excellence across the legal profession. Inclusion in the Legal 250 is more than a badge of honor — it’s a reflection of…leadership and impact in


Continue Reading J.J. Conway named to inaugural Michigan Legal 250

Multi-year honoree J.J. Conway continues Michigan Super Lawyers accolades for 2026  Media Contact: Barbara M. Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; [email protected]; 248.260.8466Royal Oak, Mich.—August 21, 2026—National employee benefits and ERISA law firm J.J. Conway Law is pleased to announce that principal attorney, founder and litigator John Joseph (J.J.) Conway has been named to the Michigan Super Lawyers list for 2026. His recognition from Super Lawyers spans over a decade, debuting as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2008, and appearing on the Super Lawyers list since 2013. Based on research and peer input, Super Lawyers recognizes the top 5% of attorneys in


Continue Reading Multi-year honoree J.J. Conway continues Michigan Super Lawyers accolades for 2026

J.J. Conway, national ERISA and employee benefits litigator, continues on Best Lawyers list, with two additional practice areas cited for distinction  
Media Contact: Barbara M. Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; [email protected]; 248.260.8466
Royal Oak, Mich.—August 20, 026—National employee benefits and ERISA law firm J.J. Conway Law is pleased to announce that firm founder John Joseph (J.J.) Conway has again been named a Best Lawyer, landing on The Best Lawyers in America 2027 edition. Best Lawyers annually recognizes exceptional legal talent worldwide using its Purely Peer Review evaluation process and is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a


Continue Reading J.J. Conway, national ERISA and employee benefits litigator, continues on Best Lawyers list, with two additional practice areas cited for distinction

By Harvir AujlaWorking at JJ Conway Law has been an experience I am genuinely grateful for. As a law student, it can be difficult to fully understand what the practice of law looks like until you are actually around real files, real clients, and real responsibilities. Mr. Conway was kind enough to take me on and give me that opportunity, and it is something I do not take lightly.What I have enjoyed most is how hands-on the work has been. I have had the chance to assist with legal research, drafting, client intake, reviewing documents, and helping with different parts


Continue Reading “Working at JJ Conway Law has helped me learn, gain confidence, and see the kind of lawyer I hope to become.”

By Adam QuistiniClerking at J.J. Conway Law has been one of the most valuable experiences of my legal journey. From my first day, I was trusted with substantive legal work that allowed me to contribute to real cases involving employee benefits, disability claims, and insurance disputes. I’ve conducted legal research, drafted memoranda, demand letters, appeals, and insurance claims while learning from and working alongside J.J. Conway and Paula Cardwell.What has stood out to me most is the human side of this work. Behind every file is someone facing a difficult situation, often after having legitimate benefits denied or being treated


Continue Reading “Clerking at J.J. Conway Law showed me the human side of employee benefits law.”

By Adam QuitsiniClerking at J.J. Conway Law has been one of the most valuable experiences of my legal journey. From my first day, I was trusted with substantive legal work that allowed me to contribute to real cases involving employee benefits, disability claims, and insurance disputes. I’ve conducted legal research, drafted memoranda, demand letters, appeals, and insurance claims while learning from and working alongside J.J. Conway and Paula Cardwell.What has stood out to me most is the human side of this work. Behind every file is someone facing a difficult situation, often after having legitimate benefits denied or being treated


Continue Reading Clerking at J.J. Conway Law showed me the human side of employee benefits law

The once powerful ‘hidden paycheck’ now in limbo as emerging trends threaten security of health insurance and retirement plans.
With small employers considering the elimination of health insurance and health plans battling it out with hospitals “…now is the time to cash the hidden paycheck…”
Media Contact: Barbara M. Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; [email protected]; 248.260.8466
Royal Oak, Mich.— May 28, 2026— At one time, employers referred to employee benefits, which include health and welfare benefits as well as retirement benefits, as the ‘hidden paycheck.’ While that expression isn’t used much today, the reality is that what was once valued as


Continue Reading The Hidden Paycheck is Under Fire

On March 30, 2026, the Department of Labor advanced a rule guiding how private employers could expand their 401(k) and related retirement plans to allow employees to invest in private credit markets and other alternative assets. At the same time, the rule explains how the defined contribution plan fiduciaries would be shielded from Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)-protections. The move comes following an August 2025 Executive Order by President Trump that the addition of alternative investment options would benefit employees, given the opportunity for higher returns than traditional investments like the stock market. As this thinking goes, no longer


Continue Reading The private credit market is upside down. So why does the government think it’s a good time to invest your 401(K) funds there now?

Media Contact: Barbara M. Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; [email protected]; 248.260.8466

Royal Oak, Mich.—February 10, 2026— National employee benefits litigation and ERISA law firm, J.J.Conway Law, is pleased to announce that firm founder J.J. Conway has been named a 2026 LeadingLawyer, continuing his inclusion on the list for multiple consecutive years.

Conway was named a Leading Lawyer in the practice areas of class action and mass tort/plaintiffs inemployee benefits law, and insurance coverage law/insured. He has been included on the LeadingLawyers list since 2017. Less than 5% of all employers licensed to practice law in Michigan receive the distinction of beingnamed a
Continue Reading National Employee Benefits and ERISA Litigator J.J. Conway Named to 2026 Leading Lawyers List

“The plan encourages homeownership while helping overcome the affordability issue; thecomplexities arise via the lending rules”

Media Contact: Barbara M. Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; [email protected]; 248.260.8466

Royal Oak, Mich.—January 21, 2026—Amid a flurry of news last week was an interestingannouncement by President Trump: a proposed plan to allow the use of 401(k) plan money to be usedtoward the down payment of a home for first-time home buyers. Is it an election year attention grabberor a much-needed opportunity to loosen the grip of a stubbornly tight home market? National employeebenefits litigation and ERISA attorney J.J. Conway of Michigan-based J.J. Conway Law believes
Continue Reading National Employee Benefits And ERISA Litigator Looks At Pros And Cons Of Proposed Trump Administration Plan To Allow Use Of Pre-Tax 401(k) Funds For First-Time Home Buyer Down Payments

Michigan should reject ‘repetitive sickness’ as a bar to physician disability claims

Media Contact: Barbara M. Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; [email protected]; 248.260.8466

Royal Oak, Mich.—October 29, 2025—The Nolan v. Provident Life and Accident Insurance Companylawsuit filed this week by national employee benefits litigation and ERISA attorney J.J. Conway onbehalf of a Michigan vascular surgeon seeks to overturn the Michigan Supreme Court ruling in Nehra v.Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company, 454 Mich. 110 (1997), which narrowly defines injuryso as to exclude repetitive injury disabilities prevalent in the nature of a surgeon’s work.

According to published studies, surgeons experience significantly higher rates


Continue Reading Surgeon’s Lawsuit Seeks to Overturn Longstanding but Obscure Michigan Supreme Court Decision on Illness Versus Injury in Determining Private Contract Disability Benefits

In my March 2023 Conway on Benefits column in the Detroit Legal News, I wrote about thediffering roles and responsibilities of employee benefits departments versus individualemployees regarding monitoring their benefits.

“There is an increasing tendency of the courts in ERISA cases to let a benefits department off thehook for big, consequential errors and to shift the blame upon the employee for administrativeerrors at the plan level…It is a reflexive approach that might work in crafting a written opinionbut is inconsistent with the real world setting and the working lives of employees in privatecompanies…”

I thought of that column when reading
Continue Reading Don’t Rely on Your Employer to Track Your 401(k) Deductions

Media Contact: Barbara M. Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; [email protected]; 248.260.8466

Royal Oak, Mich.—August 21, 2025—National employee benefits and ERISA law firm J.J. Conway Lawis pleased to announce that principal attorney, founder and litigator John Joseph (J.J.) Conway hasbeen named to the 2026 Best Lawyers ® list, making his debut appearance in the 32 nd edition of The BestLawyers in America ® . Best Lawyers ® honors legal talent annually in more than 70 countries worldwideusing its Purely Peer Review ® evaluation process and is widely regarded by both clients and legalprofessionals as a significant honor, conferred on a lawyer
Continue Reading J.J. Conway, National ERISA and Employee Benefits Litigator, Makes his Debut Appearance on Prestigious Best Lawyers® List

Media Contact: Barbara M. Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; [email protected]; 248.260.8466

Royal Oak, Mich.—August 21, 2025—National employee benefits and ERISA law firm J.J. Conway Lawis pleased to announce that principal attorney, founder and litigator John Joseph (J.J.) Conway hasbeen named to the 2025 Michigan Super Lawyers list. Peer-influenced and research-driven, the SuperLawyers selection process recognizes the top 5% of attorneys in Michigan.

Conway was recognized in the practice areas of employee benefits. He is a veteran of the Super Lawyerslist, first appearing as a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2008 to 2011, and appearing on the SuperLawyers traditional list since 2013.
Continue Reading National ERISA and Employee Benefits Litigator, J.J. Conway, Continues His Long Run on the Michigan Super Lawyers List

Media Contact: Barbara M. Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; [email protected]; 248.260.8466

Royal Oak, Mich.— August 5, 2025— Employee benefits and ERISA attorney and litigator John Joseph(J.J.) Conway of Michigan-based J.J. Conway Law is not waiting for the current administration toofficially release executive orders and regulatory advisories allowing 401k accounts to invest in newretirement products before he calls out the move as risky.

“Allowing employees to invest their retirement savings in cryptocurrencies, alternative investments likeprivate equity and hedge funds, and precious metals is a seismic and risky shift in U.S. public policy,”Conway said. “With alternative investments, for example, the standard management fee on
Continue Reading ERISA Attorney Cites Exorbitant Management Fees, Withdrawal Restrictions, Plan Administration and Fiduciary Conflicts as Key Risks in New Era 401(k) Plans

Byline: Kelsey Dulz, Rising 2L at Detroit Mercy School of Law

Before this summer, I hadn’t given much thought about benefits law. I would be remiss ifI didn’t admit that any assumptions I had were rooted in the idea that the work mostlyinvolved being on hold with insurance companies all day. While I did, in fact, spendplenty of time on hold, I’ve come to understand just how complex, technical, andessential this area of law truly is.

This summer, I worked on client matters involving healthcare claims, disability benefits,pensions, and ERISA. Benefits law is deeply rooted in contract law, but the
Continue Reading A Summer in Benefits Law: Advocacy Starts With the Right Documents