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Sara E. Hauptfuehrer

Education

  • J.D. George Mason University
    B.A. Bethany College

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Ohio
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia


Sara E. Hauptfuehrer
Of Counsel

Sara E. Hauptfuehrer
Of Counsel

With an emphasis on litigation, Sara Hauptfuehrer’s practice focuses on Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). She also handles employment discrimination litigation and counsels on a number of employee benefits-related issues.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

  • Defended acquiring company in litigation alleging various violations of ERISA in connection with a multi-million dollar business combination
  • Summary judgment involving multi-employer pension trust in litigation seeking additional pension benefits
  • Opposed class certification in employment discrimination litigation and successfully defended the denial of class certification before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
  • Summary judgment in numerous actions involving challenges to denial of benefits under ERISA plans
  • Summary judgment involving claim of disability discrimination

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • 2001
    Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
  • 1989
    Steptoe & Johnson LLP

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS / AWARDS

  • Associate Editor, George Mason University Law Review
  • Super Lawyers® 2009
  • The Best Lawyers in America®
  • American Bar Association
  • International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
  • Defense Research Institute

INDUSTRY / CIVIC MEMBERSHIPS

  • President, Board, Job Squad, Inc.
  • Harrison County Chamber of Commerce
  • President, Bethany College Alumni Association 2010-2012
  • Member, Bethany College Alumni Council 2003-

PUBLICATIONS / SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

  • “Removal Jurisdiction in ERISA Cases: The Doctrine of Complete Preemption,” 4 ERISA Litigation Reporter No. 5, at 4 (Dec. 1995) (with Paul J. Ondrasik, Jr.)
  • “A Primer on ERISA’s Civil Enforcement Scheme for the Non-ERISA Lawyer,” 12 Inside Litigation No. 4, at 7 (Apr. 1998)