Yelena F. Gray

In the news

• Employee Benefit Plan Review

  Managing increasing health and welfare fiduciary risks

  Corporate partners Damian Myers of Washington, DC and Yelena Gray of Chicago, counsel Lena Gionnette of Rochester, and associate Annie Zhang of Washington, DC, all members of NP’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, contributed this column, discussing how to manage increasing health and welfare fiduciary risks.   
  May 1, 2024
• Employee Benefit Plan Review

  Ask the experts

  In this latest installment of NP’s “Ask the Experts” column, Corporate partners Damian Myers in Washington, DC and Yelena Gray in Chicago, and counsel Jean Yu in Los Angeles, all of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, discuss issues employers should be aware of if employees want to invest in cryptocurrency through their 401(k) accounts.
  June 1, 2022
• Journal of Compensation and Benefits

  OTC COVID-19 test coverage requirements under group health plans

  This article contributed by Corporate partners Damian Myers in Washington, DC and Yelena Gray in Chicago, and associate Annie Zhang in Washington, DC—all of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team—discusses updated federal requirements for group health plans covering over-the-counter COVID-19 tests purchased by members without an order or clinical assessment from a healthcare provider.
  May 9, 2022
• Employee Benefit Plan Review

  Ask the Experts: Defined contribution plan amendments and telemedicine coverage

  In the latest installment of their “Ask the Experts” column, Corporate partners Damian Myers in Washington, DC and Yelena Gray in Chicago, and associate Lena Gionnette in Rochester—all of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team—discuss the legal changes that necessitate amendments to defined contribution plans, along with the extension of telemedicine coverage in 2022.
  April 26, 2022
• Employee Benefit Plan Review

  Ask the Experts

  In the newest installment of their monthly “Ask the Experts” column, Chicago partner Yelena Gray, Washington, DC partner Damian Myers, and Rochester associate Lena Gionnette, all from the Corporate group and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, expand on the new requirements for group health plans regarding direct and indirect compensation disclosure, as well as the importance of plan committees engaging an investment advisor for retirement plans.
  March 1, 2022
• Employee Benefits Plan Review

  Ask the experts

  In the newest installment of their Ask the Experts” column, Chicago partner Yelena Gray, Washington, DC partner Damian Myers, and Rochester associate Lena Gionnette, all from the Corporate group and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, discuss the competitive bid process that benefit plan administrators should routinely conduct to evaluate service providers, along with the deficient COBRA election notices that are fueling an uptick in litigation.
  Feb 8, 2022
• Employee Benefit Plan Review

  Ask the experts: COVID-19 coverage requirements; changes to the EPCRS program

  In the newest installment of their monthly “Ask the experts” column, Chicago partner Yelena Gray, Washington, DC partner Damian Myers, and Rochester associate Lena Gionnette, all of the Corporate group and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, describe several requirements related to COVID-19 that still apply to group health plans, along with recent changes to the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System for correcting retirement plan administrative errors.
  Jan 1, 2022
• Employee Benefit Plan Review

  Ask the experts

  In the newest installment of their monthly “Ask the Experts” column, Chicago partner Yelena Gray, Washington, DC partner Damian Myers, and Rochester associate Lena Gionnette, all from the Corporate group and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, outline the legal considerations for employers implementing COVID-19 vaccine incentives or surcharges; new fee disclosure requirements for health and welfare plan brokers; and best practices for plan sponsors when restating their pre-approved documents to the IRS.
  Nov 1, 2021
• Employee Benefit Plan Review

  Ask the Experts - Price transparency rules

  In the newest installment of their monthly “Ask the Experts” column, Chicago partner Yelena Gray, Washington, DC partner Damian Myers, and Rochester associate Lena Gionnette, all from the Corporate group and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, outline the patchwork of new requirements aimed at increasing health care cost transparency and providing best practices for group health plan sponsors to ensure compliance with the rules.
  Oct 8, 2021
• Employee Benefit Plan Review

  Ask the experts

  In the newest installment of their monthly “Ask the experts” column, Chicago partner Yelena Gray, Washington, DC partner Damian Myers, and Rochester associate Lena Gionnnette, all in the Corporate group and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, analyze the Department of Labor’s recent cybersecurity guidance and provide best practices for retirement plans.
  Aug 20, 2021
• Employee Benefits Plan Review

  Ask the experts

  Chicago partner Yelena Gray, Washington, D.C. partner Damian Myers, and Rochester associate Lena Gionnnette, all with the Corporate group and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, contributed this column addressing various questions about health benefit coverage, including parity requirements for mental health and medical benefits, in addition to the application of continuing “COBRA” benefits for former employees.
  July 27, 2021
• Employee Benefit Plan Review

  New law requires health plans to demonstrate compliance with parity requirements between mental health and medical benefits

  Chicago partner Yelena Gray, Washington DC partner Damian Myers, and Rochester associate Lena Gionnette, all of the Corporate group, contributed this article analyzing the new federal laws requiring employer-sponsored group health plans to prove that their plans satisfy all aspects of the parity regulations between mental health and medical benefits.
  June 10, 2021
• Inside Health Policy

  Stakeholders await key guidance on full COBRA subsidies

  Rochester Corporate partner Brian Kopp, of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, is quoted in this article on COBRA subsidies included in the newly enacted American Rescue Plan, noting potential challenges for employers. The article also links to a client alert Brian wrote with Chicago Corporate partner Yelena Gray and Washington, DC Corporate partner Damian Myers, both of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team.
  March 26, 2021
• Journal of Compensation and Benefits

  Stimulus legislation gives temporary relief under flexible spending arrangements

  Washington, DC partner Damian Myers, Chicago partner Yelena Gray, and Rochester associate Lena Gionnette, all of the Corporate group and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, contributed this article summarizing the temporary relief for flexible spending accounts in the December 2020 stimulus law, highlighting important takeaways for plan sponsors.
  March 12, 2021
• Law360

  3 Tips on Complying with the New Mental Health Parity Law

  Chicago partner Yelena Gray and Washington, D.C. partner Damian Myers, both of the Corporate group and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, are quoted throughout this article on steps employers can take to ensure they are in compliance with the mental health parity law that took effect on Wednesday.
  Feb 10, 2021
• Big Sky Business Journal

  Montana Highlights

  Nixon Peabody is mentioned in this roundup of major Montana business news for its representation of Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc., in its acquisition of Ruby Valley Bank in Twin Bridges, Montana. Nixon Peabody’s deal team was led by Public Company Transactions partner Lloyd Spencer and senior counsel Ray Gustini and included Public Company Transactions partner Sean Clancy, Real Estate partner Colette Dafoe, Energy & Environmental Group partner Jean McCreary, and Labor & Employment partners Jeff Gilbreth, Yelena Gray and Tom McCord.
  April 9, 2018
• Confero

  Cash Balance Plans Face an Amendment Deadline

  Chicago Labor & Employment partner Yelena Gray authored this column discussing the upcoming compliance deadline for cash balance plan sponsors.
  June 1, 2016
• Chicago Daily Law Bulletin

  New Law Puts Brakes on Health-Care Reimbursements for Employees

  Chicago Labor & Employment partner Yelena Gray authored this column discussing the importance of employers being aware of medical reimbursement arrangements. Click here to read the full article.
  Sep 22, 2015
• Law360

  Attorneys Rally Around High Court's Gay Marriage Decision

  Chicago Labor & Employment partner Yelena Gray and Providence Labor & Employment partner Andrew Prescott are quoted in this article on the impact of the Supreme Court’s recent decision regarding marriage equality.
  June 26, 2015