Norbert Kugele specializes in the areas of employee benefits and privacy and information security law. He works with large and small companies, public school districts, colleges, universities and nonprofit organizations to help them provide health benefits and fringe benefits to their employees.  He also works with organizations of all sizes on understanding and complying with state, federal and international privacy and information security laws, understanding risk assessments and responding to security breach incidents.

Representative Experience

• Works with some of West Michigan’s largest employers in developing summary plan descriptions and other disclosure documents to effectively communicate benefits and disclosures required under ERISA
• Counsels private and publicly held corporations on executive compensation and severance issues for compliance with Tax Code Sections 409A and 280G
• Represents employers in ERISA litigation
• Advises regional insurer on HIPAA privacy and security issues
• Developed HIPAA privacy and security policies for multinational company with self-funded health plans
• Represents community hospitals in responding to subpoenas and administrative requests for medical records
• Advises national financial services company on privacy and security issues
• Counsels organizations on responding to security breach incidents
• Helps internet retailers develop privacy policies for Web site operations
• Counsels regional pharmacy on privacy and security issues relating to Web site operations

Honors And Awards

• Harno Fellow
• Order of the Coif
• Note and Comment Editor, University of Illinois Law Review, 1991-92

Bar Associations

Teaching and Lecturing

• Norbert has been an instructor at numerous in-house, firm-sponsored and professional association seminars on HIPAA privacy and security compliance for employers, Medicare Part D compliance issues for health plan sponsors, COBRA administration, executive compensation and ERISA compliance issues
• Norbert has also taught chess to a class of 4th graders at the Southeast Academic Center
• "Time to Shape Up Your Cafeteria Plan," WNJ Human Resources Seminar, September 11, 2008, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• "Hot Fringe Benefits Issues," WNJ Human Resources Seminar, September 11, 2008, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• "Does Your Cafeteria Plan Need Updating?," January 9, 2008, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• "Electronic SPDs, Notices and Consents:  What You Need to Know," WNJ Human Resources Seminar, May 10, 2007, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Privacy Program with Grand Haven Chamber of Commerce, March 15, 2007, Spring Lake, Michigan
• The Impact of Michigan's New Identity Theft Notification Law on Employers, February 27, 2007, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Publications

• Norbert has authored numerous articles on HIPAA privacy and security issues, structuring of wellness programs, tax code compliance problems for executive compensation arrangements, and electronic delivery of benefit disclosure documents
• Norbert has also been quoted in articles published in the Grand Rapids Press, the Grand Rapids Business Journal, MIBizWest, the Washington Post and the World Peace Herald

• Flurry of New Laws Impact Health and Welfare Benefits
• HR Focus

Professional Affiliations

• American Health Lawyers Association
  
• Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
  Health Care and Human Resources Committee; Chair of Subcommittee on HSAs
  
• Catholic Lawyers of West Michigan
  

News

• Warner Norcross and ISG to Hold Seminar on Michigan's New Identity Theft Notification Law
• Warner Norcross and Pinnacle Insurance to Hold Seminar on Michigan’s Identity Theft Notification Law

Events

• The Impact of Michigan's New Identity Theft Notification Law on Employers -- Grand Rapids
• The Impact of Michigan's New Identity Theft Notification Law on Employers -- Kalamazoo