Photo of Katelyn W. Harrell

Katelyn W. Harrell is an associate in the New Orleans, Louisiana, office of Jackson Lewis P.C.

Katelyn’s practice focus includes the defense of ERISA plans and plan fiduciaries at both public and private companies. She is a member of the firm’s Employee Benefits group, and is a contributor to the Employee Benefits Newsletter, the firm’s publication covering current events in benefits law.

In addition to litigating ERISA-based claims, Katelyn is also involved in litigating general employment law matters, including representing employers in Family and Medical Leave cases, discrimination claims relative to age, sex, disability, race, religion, and sexual harassment, and handling EEOC charges and other administrative complaints through the administrative and judicial process. She has trial experience including sitting first chair in two bench trials as well as second chair in a third.

Prior to joining Jackson Lewis, Katelyn practiced general casualty litigation with a local New Orleans defense firm.

In Metzgar v. U.A. Plumbers & Steamfitters Local No. 22 Pension Fund, 2022 U.S. App. LEXIS 5466 (2d Cir. Mar. 2, 2022), the Second Circuit in a summary order affirmed the district court’s decision granting summary judgment in favor of plan trustees regarding the trustees’ reinterpretation of what “retire” means under the terms of

In Avenoso v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, No. 21-1772, 2021 U.S. App. LEXIS 35264 (8th Cir. Nov. 30, 2021), the Eighth Circuit clarified its position in a circuit split over the proper judicial procedure for deciding ERISA benefits cases.

The underlying case concerned the defendant’s denial of long-term disability benefits under an ERISA