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August 4, 2026
COLUMBUS, Ohio – August 3, 2026 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to welcome Helana Darrow to the firm’s Columbus, Ohio office as a shareholder. Darrow joins the firm from Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, where she was a partner.
Darrow is an experienced counselor and advisor with nearly 30 years of legal experience, and her practice focuses on all aspects of employee benefit matters. Her work includes the design of executive compensation, retirement, and health and welfare plans. Darrow advises employers on Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) fiduciary issues and on day-to-day compliance matters relating to 401(k), profit sharing, pension and cash balance, deferred compensation plans, and more. She also regularly reviews employee benefit plans in connection with mergers and acquisitions.
“Helana pairs technical ERISA knowledge with practical experience counseling employers through the full lifecycle of different benefit plans,” said Samuel Lillard, office managing shareholder in Columbus. “Her background in the mergers and acquisitions context is especially valuable as more of our clients face compensation questions in deal work, and her arrival strengthens a practice area our clients rely on every day.”
Darrow’s practice also focuses on ERISA litigation, and she regularly counsels on employee benefit plan compliance under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Public Health Service Act (PHSA), and the Internal Revenue Code.
“Ogletree Deakins has built one of the strongest employee benefits practices in the country, and the resources available here will be a big value-add for clients,” said Darrow. “I’m looking forward to helping employers navigate an increasingly complex compliance landscape and working alongside a team that shares my approach to client service.”
Darrow earned her J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and her B.A. from Morehead State University.
About Ogletree Deakins
With more than 1,100 attorneys in 60 offices worldwide, Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management. We handle all types of employment-related legal matters, including traditional labor and employment, workplace safety, employee benefits, and business immigration matters. Guided by our Client Pledge, we focus on understanding clients’ business and objectives, collaborating and anticipating needs, harnessing technology and innovation, communicating effectively, and providing quality representation with exceptional value. www.ogletree.com