Damarr Butler assists clients in defending complex ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) litigation matters involving single and multiemployer plans. He also advises clients on complex benefits matters in connection with corporate restructurings, acquisitions, dispositions, and mergers and in the administration and compliance of employee benefit plans with the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA. He also counsels clients on matters involving fiduciary responsibility, prohibited transactions, plan fees, and plan investments.
Damarr's ERISA career began at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), where he represented the PBGC in federal bankruptcy, state insolvency/receivership, transactional, and litigation matters. He also regularly defended the agency regarding its Early Warning Program, reportable events, and distress and standard termination proceedings. Damarr currently assists clients with PBGC reporting obligations, audits, and investigations.
Prior to joining Jones Day in 2023, Damarr was an associate general counsel at Edward D. Jones & Co., where he advised the firm in legal and regulatory matters related to all facets of its retirement business, including ERISA and non-ERISA employer retirement plans as well as retail products such as IRAs (individual retirement accounts), Roth IRAs, SEPs (simplified employee pension plans), and SIMPLE (savings incentive match plan for employees) accounts. Damarr also practiced at an international law firm in its Washington, D.C. office, where he represented retirement and welfare plan sponsors, fiduciaries, and service providers in all phases of ERISA litigation, compliance, and regulatory investigations.
Damarr is actively involved with various benefits and tax committees of the American Bar Association (ABA).
- Georgetown University (LL.M. in Taxation 2017, with a Certificate in Employee Benefits); Howard University (J.D. 2008; Recipient, Merit Scholarship); Jackson State University (B.S. in Criminal Justice magna cum laude 2002)
- Maryland, District of Columbia, and U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fourth and District of Columbia Circuits
- Attorney, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (2008-2019); Special Assistant United States Attorney, Civil Division, U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia (October 2011-April 2012); Law Clerk, National Labor Relations Board (Summer 2007)
Member, Law360 Benefits Editorial Advisory Board (2020-present)
Recipient, The National Black Lawyers' Top 100 Lawyers in D.C. (2020)
Government Fellow, American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment Law, Employee Benefits Committee (2013-2015)
Holds ABA leadership positions, including, co-chair of the Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law: Employee Benefit Plans and Other Compensation Arrangements: Fiduciary Responsibility, Administration and Litigation Committee