Barbara Uberti Manerchia is head of the firm’s Employee Benefit and Executive Compensation practice, which is a growing part of the Business practice group.  Ms. Manerchia represents clients in a broad range of matters related to employee benefits including tax-qualified retirement plans, health and welfare plans and executive compensation.  She regularly counsels clients with respect to the design and administration of benefit programs, and represents clients in matters before the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Labor.  Ms. Manerchia has extensive experience in addressing fiduciary matters and employer securities issues for sponsors of retirement plans. 

Before joining Potter Anderson & Corroon as Counsel in 2007, Ms. Manerchia was in-house counsel to The Vanguard Group.  At Vanguard, she advised institutional clients on matters including the design of investment advisory programs, the diversification of employer securities and the proper treatment of plan expenses.  She also counseled executives of Fortune 500 companies with respect to retirement plan issues in connection with mergers and acquisitions, prudent plan administration and fiduciary governance.

Ms. Manerchia served as a member and as chair of the U.S. Department of Labor’s ERISA Advisory Council.  The ERISA Advisory Council advises the Secretary of Labor on matters of national interest affecting retirement and welfare plans.  She also served as chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Employee Benefit Trust School for the American Bankers Association.

Ms. Manerchia was a member of the senior management team of Wilmington Trust Company where she led the retirement services trust business for 15 years.  She has also served as Of Counsel to Cozen O’Connor.

Ms. Manerchia has spoken widely on employee benefits issues, including the impact of Pension Protection Act, the implementation of Roth 401(k)s, the protection of retirement plan fiduciaries and other legal developments affecting retirement programs.

Education

• Villanova University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1978; Tax Award for Highest Achievement; Rinaldi Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Classroom; Reimel Moot Court Board
• Villanova University, B.S., magna cum laude, 1975

Professional Activities

• American Benefits Council
• American Bar Association, Tax Section, Employee Benefits Committee
• Pennsylvania Bar Association
• The Fund for Women
• Executive Committee, Swinging With A Star
• Support Center for Child Advocates (2001-2003)
• ERISA Advisory Council for the U.S. Department of Labor (1997-2000)
• Adjunct Professor of Business Law, University of Delaware (1995-1997)
• Board of Trustees of the National Employee Benefits Trust School (1994-1997)