Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP, a national plaintiff side law firm, is pleased to announce the promotion of James Bloom to a partner at the firm. Mr. Bloom practices as a member of the firm’s consumer rights team, primarily representing plaintiffs, consumers and employees in class action and consumer cases. Mr. Bloom practices at the Emeryville firm headquarters in the Bay Area, California. 

Mr. Bloom has represented the trustees, fiduciaries and participants of ERISA covered plans, including defined contribution plans, 401(k) plans, pension plans, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and welfare plans in a wide variety of ERISA claims related to the plan management, fees and benefits. Mr. Bloom has also represented clients ranging from businesses like banks and hedge funds to employees, shareholders, consumers and property owners as plaintiffs and defendants in commercial cases of many kinds, including securities, bankruptcy, real estate, corporate and contractual disputes. 

401(k) Investment Management 

401(k) savings plans are popular methods for American workers to make tax-advantaged retirement investments, through employer-sponsored programs.  Despite plan managers fiduciary status, actions by plan sponsors and fund services often deprive investors of their rightful savings through imprudent investments or excessive fees and costs. Mr. Bloom represents workers whose retirement funds have been reduced due to unfair practices such as excessive transactions to generate more commission. 

ESOP – Employee Stock Ownership Plans 

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) are an employee benefit plan that owns stock in the employer company. While ESOPs can provide benefits to both the employer and the employees in the plan, they have been subject historically to instances of abuse and mismanagement.  

Mr. Bloom is available for free legal consultations for employees concerned about red flags in their ESOP management, such as large declines in ESOP value for an otherwise strong company, new ESOPs overpaying for stock in the company, and layoffs that reduce ESOP participants before they can collect benefits. 

About Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP 

Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky has been established in California with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1993. The firm represents both individuals and institutional clients such as health insurers and municipalities in complex civil litigation. In addition to the Bay Area office, the firm maintains a nationwide practice with offices in Los Angeles, Texas and Puerto Rico. Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky handles class actions in the areas of employment, disability access, civil rights, and consumer protection. It also litigates cases in the fields of antitrust law, ERISA, and qui tam. The firm’s practice focuses on impact litigation with a goal of remedying systemic violations of the law in employment, civil rights, public accommodations, consumer fraud, and antitrust.