Everything falls under the goal of providing value to my clients. To accomplish this, my approach is very customized and hands-on.

F. Jefferson Bragdon is Of Counsel to Williams Coulson and has worked with the firm since 1998. He has over 40 years of legal experience. Jeff focuses his practice in the areas of employee benefits (ERISA), taxation, business planning, business aspects of the financial services industry, and mutual fund companies (Investment Company Act of 1940). He has more than 35 years experience in employee benefits, practicing in the field prior to ERISA, and has represented a wide range of clients including professionals and a "Fortune 500" company.

Notable Representative Matters

• Successfully represented corporate sponsor, and owners, with respect to Department of Labor investigation of more than $10 Million of alleged ERISA Prohibited Transactions with sponsored Employee Welfare Benefit Trust.
• Successfully represented Investment Management firm and owners with respect to Department of Labor investigation of firm’s Retirement and Benefit Plan asset management business.
• Obtained ERISA Prohibited Transaction Exemption from Department of Labor with respect to sale of large tract of real estate from Employee Welfare Benefit Trust to owners of the plan sponsor, who are also trustees of the trust.
• Obtained Department of Labor Advisory Opinion for Mutual Fund Complex that payment of so called 12b-1 fees from the mutual fund assets with respect to the Mutual Fund Complex’s 401(k) plan for its employees does not constitute ERISA Prohibited Transaction.
• Negotiated $11 Million investment by family member’s IRA in family owned hedge fund limited partnership on behalf of institutional custodian of IRA.

Prior to joining Williams Coulson, Jeff was Corporate Counsel at Federated Investors, one of the 10 largest Mutual Fund complexes in the world. Jeff was responsible for Employee Benefit matters; in particular, retirement plans. He served as counsel to Federated's Defined Contribution Plan Administration subsidiary, the Director of Human Resources regarding employee benefits matters, and the Trustee of the Federated Investors Employee Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan. In addition, Jeff was Secretary and Counsel to Federated's New Jersey state bank subsidiary and represented a $450 Million stable value Collective Investment Trust.

Throughout his career, Jeff has been actively involved in local organizations, including the Allegheny County Bar Association (past Chair of the Tax Section), the Allegheny Tax Society, and the American Bar Association, where he was a charter member of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Committee of the Business Law Section, as well as being active in the Employee Benefits Committee of the Tax Section.

Jeff has been a frequent lecturer on employee benefits for a number of organizations and continuing education programs. Jeff also serves in religious, charitable, and service organizations, including Ward Program Services, a United Methodist agency providing foster care and independent living for children and teens.

Jeff is a graduate of Bucknell University and received his J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law.