About Debra
Debra has extensive experience with benefit programs, including qualified and non-qualified pension benefits, welfare benefits, COBRA and HIPAA compliance for health plans, fringe benefits, executive compensation, and ERISA litigation defense. Her expertise includes drafting plan and related documents, providing advice on plan design, administration and compliance issues, and representing sponsors, fiduciaries and plans before the federal regulatory agencies.
Debra is a member of the Alabama State Bar, the Birmingham Bar Association, and the American Bar Association where she is a member of the Tax Section and Labor & Employment Section, Employee Benefits Subcommittee, and Contributing Editor to that Subcommittee’s BNA Member treatise, Employee Benefits Law 2005 Cumulative Supplement.
She is licensed to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Middle and Northern Districts of Alabama. She is also a member of the Southern Employee Benefits Conference where she serves as Chair of the Legal and Legislative Committee.
Debra received her B.A. from the University of Alabama and her J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law. While in law school, she was Senior Editor of The American Journal of Tax Policy. Debra also received her LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Alabama School of Law.
What was your first job? I worked as a counselor at my high school’s summer day camp for children ages 4-12. I made $25 per week.
What are your hobbies? Scrapbooking, scrapbooking, scrapbooking - whenever I find a spare 30 minutes. Also love to garden and enjoy cooking.
What advice would you give to a young student in law school? Take courses that you find interesting, even if you doubt they will have practical application to your law practice.