The Wagner Law Group

What The Wagner Law Group does

The Wagner Law Group is a private, woman-owned American law firm founded in 1996 by Marcia S. Wagner and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The firm specializes in ERISA and employee benefits law and has grown to 48 attorneys operating across nine U.S. offices (Boston, Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, St. Louis, and Tampa). Its practice groups cover ERISA and employee benefits (the largest), employment law, a specialized PBGC practice (bolstered by the 2022 integration of the former Keightley & Ashner team, which included former PBGC Chief Counsel Israel Goldowitz), private client services (trusts, estates, probate), litigation, real estate, independent fiduciary services, and expert witness work. The firm is recognized at Tier-1 nationally in Best Lawyers for ERISA, ranked in Chambers USA, holds AV Preeminent ratings from Martindale-Hubbell, and is certified as a woman-owned business by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

The firm's clients include publicly-traded multistate and multinational businesses, closely held for-profit companies, nonprofit/tax-exempt organizations, financial institutions and registered investment advisers, plan sponsors and participants, government instrumentalities, and individual clients. Named engagements include Voya Financial, Alpha Pension Group (a Division of HUB New England), Foxboro Consulting Group, Secure Benefits Northeast, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, PhRMA, and Phoenix Media/Communications Group. The firm is also active in thought leadership: attorneys author industry publications, speak at industry conferences, provide governmental testimony before the DOL, IRS, and PBGC, and operate an ERISA Library, blogs, and newsletters as content marketing channels.

The Wagner Law Group earns revenue through engagement-based professional services fees, emphasizing "reasonable rates" combined with the sophistication of larger firms. The firm does not publicly disclose rates or revenue. Its go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, relying on thought leadership, peer recognition (Best Lawyers, Chambers USA, Super Lawyers), speaking engagements, and client referrals. Complementary strategic affiliations (Rarick & Beskin in Florida, CC Law & Policy in federal legislative/regulatory work) expand its reach into jurisdictions and policy arenas where it does not maintain offices.

Name

The Wagner Law Group

Legal name

The Wagner Law Group

Website

https://wagnerlawgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Wagner Law Group is a Boston-headquartered, woman-owned U.S. law firm founded in 1996 that specializes in ERISA and employee benefits law, employing 48 attorneys across nine offices serving publicly-traded, nonprofit, financial, and government clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

ERISA and Employee Benefits Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate & Commercial Law (BPAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law (BPAHAAAK), Personal Injury & Insurance Defense (BPAHAAAM), Litigation Support & Expert Witness Services (BPAHALAG)

Keywords

• ERISA legal services
• Employee benefits law
• PBGC counsel
• Fiduciary compliance
• Employment law

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services Revenue: The Wagner Law Group generates revenue through legal fees for ERISA and employee benefits counsel, employment law services, PBGC matters, litigation, independent fiduciary services, mergers and acquisitions support, and private client services including trusts, estates, probate, and family law. The firm serves publicly-traded multistate and multinational businesses, sole proprietors, nonprofit entities, government instrumentalities, and financial institutions. Services include plan design, compliance, litigation, regulatory representation before DOL, IRS, and PBGC, executive compensation counseling, and transaction support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Wagner Law Group is a national boutique law firm providing legal services across ERISA and employee benefits, employment law, PBGC matters, private client services, litigation, and real estate. The firm delivers specialized counsel to publicly-traded multistate and multinational businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, government instrumentalities, and individuals through attorney-led engagements billed on a fee-for-service basis.

Product overview

The Wagner Law Group is a national ERISA and employee benefits law firm offering a comprehensive suite of legal services organized into practice areas. The core offerings include ERISA and Employee Benefits (the firm's largest practice covering fiduciary compliance, retirement plans, ESOPs, executive compensation, welfare benefits, PBGC, Taft-Hartley trusts, retiree medical trusts, bankruptcy, HIPAA, independent fiduciary services, investment management, legislative/regulatory policy, M&A support, tax-exempt organizations, and expert witnesses); Employment Law (covering audits, investigations, disability claims, HR, contracts/policies, training, litigation, medical leave, regulatory compliance, and wage/hour matters); PBGC Practice (specialized pension termination and claims counsel); Private Clients (probate, trusts and estates); Litigation (ERISA, insurance, healthcare, employment, appellate, land use); Real Estate; Ethics Resources; and Independent Fiduciary Services. The firm operates as a unified platform with multiple specialized practice groups that cross-refer and integrate expertise rather than discrete standalone products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved $5.25 million civil settlement from the City of Sanger on behalf of a survivor of police sexual abuse
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Rarick & BeskinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRarick & Beskin is a strategic partnership with attorney Jay Beskin at 3107 Stirling Rd #308, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312. The partnership extends the firm's reach into trusts & estates practice in Florida jurisdictions where The Wagner Law Group does not maintain a presence. This is one of several strategic partnerships the firm maintains with law firms in practice areas and jurisdictions outside its primary office network.
• Christopher E. Condeluci (CC Law & Policy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristopher E. Condeluci is the principal and sole shareholder of CC Law & Policy with whom the firm has a strategic affiliation to enhance its legislative and regulatory policy services. Chris served as Tax and Benefits Counsel to the Senate Finance Committee, participating in development of portions of the Affordable Care Act and pension-related legislation including technical corrections to the Pension Protection Act. The affiliation provides the firm with enhanced capabilities on Capitol Hill and federal departments regarding health and retirement issues.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete: National employment law firm with a strong benefits practice. Comparable on employer-side employment and benefits work, particularly for mid-market and large employers.

Direct peers

• Groom Law Group: One of the largest U.S. law firms dedicated exclusively to ERISA, employee benefits, and fiduciary matters, with a similar boutique-but-large-firm model and Washington, D.C. presence. Directly comparable to The Wagner Law Group in practice mix, client base, and regulatory focus.
• Ice Miller LLP: Mid-market full-service firm with a nationally recognized employee benefits practice. Comparable in its deep ERISA and benefits bench serving corporate plan sponsors, though it offers broader general practice.
• Ivins, Phillips & Barker: Long-standing Washington, D.C. boutique specializing in ERISA, employee benefits, and executive compensation, with strong Chambers recognition. Closely comparable in specialty focus, scale, and reliance on benefits and fiduciary counsel.
• Trucker Huss: West Coast-based ERISA boutique with a sophisticated practice in benefits, fiduciary, and ESOP matters, particularly on the West Coast. Comparable specialty focus and boutique model to The Wagner Law Group.

Others

• Seyfarth Shaw LLP: Full-service national firm with significant employment and benefits capabilities. Competes with The Wagner Law Group for employer ERISA and benefits counsel, with a broader litigation and labor footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Morgan, Lewis & Bockius: Global Am Law firm with a sizable employee benefits and executive compensation practice, including ERISA litigation. Direct overlap on benefits, fiduciary, and benefits-related M&A matters, with deeper cross-border capability.
• Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath: National full-service firm with a significant employee benefits and executive compensation group. Comparable in serving large plan sponsors and financial institutions, though from a broader, more diversified platform.
• McDermott Will & Emery: Global Am Law firm with a top-tier employee benefits and executive compensation practice. Overlaps with The Wagner Law Group on ERISA, benefits, and fiduciary work, but competes from a much larger, full-service platform.

Emerging players

• Littler Mendelson P.C. The largest U.S. firm dedicated to employment and labor law. Overlaps with The Wagner Law Group on employer-side employment counsel, though without the same depth in ERISA and benefits specialty.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/WagnerLawGroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/wagnerlawgroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/WagnerLawGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wagner-law-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_wagnerlawgroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Wagner Law Group