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James S. Beall
Alternate image for James S. Beall

James S. Beall

Partner

jbeall@wwdlaw.com
215.656.3610

Philadelphia

1845 Walnut Street, 24th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103

  • 17 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2025 ‘Best Lawyers in America,’ Deborah Willig and Irwin Aronson Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Employee Benefits Attorneys to Present at IFEBP Annual Benefits Conference
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorney to Discuss Retirement Plan Issues at Advanced Trustees and Administrators Institute
  • 17 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2021 PA Super Lawyers, Managing Partner Named Among Top Attorneys in State
  • 15 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2021 ‘Best Lawyers in America,’ Nancy B.G. Lassen Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Philadelphia Labor Law
  • 16 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2020 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • Willig Williams Davidson Benefits Partners Louise (Wendy) Pongracz and James Beall speak at 65th Annual Benefits Conference of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Lawyers Named Among 2020 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Speak at IFEBP Annual Conference
  • 15 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2019 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Speak at IFEBP Certification Program
  • 14 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2018 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 12 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2017 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 12 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named to 2016 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • Social Security Fairness Act Will Help Public Sector Retirees
  • 17 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2025 ‘Best Lawyers in America,’ Deborah Willig and Irwin Aronson Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Employee Benefits Attorneys to Present at IFEBP Annual Benefits Conference
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorney to Discuss Retirement Plan Issues at Advanced Trustees and Administrators Institute
  • 17 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2021 PA Super Lawyers, Managing Partner Named Among Top Attorneys in State
  • American Rescue Plan Offers New Life to Multiemployer Defined Benefit Pension Plans Facing Insolvency
  • PPP Loans Now Open to Certain Labor Organizations
  • What Does the ‘No Surprises Act’ Mean for Patients?
  • 15 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2021 ‘Best Lawyers in America,’ Nancy B.G. Lassen Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Philadelphia Labor Law
  • 16 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2020 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • What Are My Rights to Get Health Care from the Affordable Care Act Marketplace if I Lose My Health Care Coverage from My Job?
  • Do Multiemployer Health and Welfare Funds Have to Provide Paid Sick Leave and Paid Family Leave Under the FFCRA to Their Participants?
  • Health Benefits and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
  • Willig Williams Davidson Benefits Partners Louise (Wendy) Pongracz and James Beall speak at 65th Annual Benefits Conference of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Lawyers Named Among 2020 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Speak at IFEBP Annual Conference
  • 15 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2019 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Speak at IFEBP Certification Program
  • Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Strikes Down Common Employer Bargaining Tactic as Unlawful Under the Pension Protection Act
  • 14 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2018 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 12 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2017 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 12 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named to 2016 ‘Best Lawyers in America’

Jim Beall is known for his skill in representing a wide variety of public and private-sector single and multiemployer funds on comprehensive employee benefit and tax matters. His work focuses on the firm’s joint labor-management pension and welfare fund clients, as well as its labor union clients. He offers counsel and guidance to help ensure that union benefit plans are as well funded and secure as possible. On behalf of these clients, Jim interacts regularly with the U.S. Department of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. As part of his employee benefit work, he serves as special counsel to a large international union, advising it on complex internal benefit matters and providing representation in national benefit-related negotiations.

Among other notable achievements on behalf of clients, he negotiated a pension benefit settlement that averted the need for a strike in a major U.S. port. Jim has prepared and presented numerous pension benefit deadlock arbitrations on behalf of union trustees. He represents workers in the transportation, maritime, airline and construction industries as well as public sector clients spanning the eastern half of the country. His multi-industry experience affords him the ability to advise clients with customized, applicable solutions to their challenges, and he distinguishes himself by his practical, plainspoken approach.

A frequent lecturer, Jim has spoken at employee benefit seminars sponsored by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and by Harvard Law School. He also offers formal and informal training to union leaders, to ensure they are prepared to answer tough questions posed by members.

WHAT INSPIRES ME ABOUT MY WORK

“I find it inspirational to work with colleagues who seek legal AND economic justice for the people who make this country run—our clients.”

AWAY FROM WORK

“Traveling to places I’ve never been is a recent passion for me. I went to Singapore in the summer of 2019 and to Spain in 2018. I also enjoy reading and football.”

  • Advised clients on investigations conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefit Security Administration and Office of Labor-Management Standards, the Internal Revenue Service and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
  • Advocated for clients in Taft-Hartley trustee deadlock arbitrations, withdrawal liability disputes, contribution delinquencies, benefits-related grievance arbitrations and unfair labor practice proceedings.
  • Counseled clients on the creation of new Taft-Hartley 401(k) plans and the merger of existing pension and welfare plans.
  • Educated clients and lawmakers regarding federal and state legislation under consideration.
  • PPP Loans Now Open to Certain Labor Organizations
  • What Does the ‘No Surprises Act’ Mean for Patients?
  • American Rescue Plan Offers New Life to Multiemployer Defined Benefit Pension Plans Facing Insolvency
  • 15 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2021 ‘Best Lawyers in America,’ Nancy B.G. Lassen Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Philadelphia Labor Law
  • Health Benefits and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
  • Do Multiemployer Health and Welfare Funds Have to Provide Paid Sick Leave and Paid Family Leave Under the FFCRA to Their Participants?
  • What Are My Rights to Get Health Care from the Affordable Care Act Marketplace if I Lose My Health Care Coverage from My Job?
  • 16 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2020 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • Willig Williams Davidson Benefits Partners Louise (Wendy) Pongracz and James Beall speak at 65th Annual Benefits Conference of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.
  • 12 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2017 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 12 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named to 2016 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 14 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2018 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Speak at IFEBP Annual Conference
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Lawyers Named Among 2020 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 15 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2019 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Speak at IFEBP Certification Program
  • Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Strikes Down Common Employer Bargaining Tactic as Unlawful Under the Pension Protection Act
  • 17 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2021 PA Super Lawyers, Managing Partner Named Among Top Attorneys in State
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorney to Discuss Retirement Plan Issues at Advanced Trustees and Administrators Institute
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Employee Benefits Attorneys to Present at IFEBP Annual Benefits Conference
  • 17 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2025 ‘Best Lawyers in America,’ Deborah Willig and Irwin Aronson Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’
  • Social Security Fairness Act Will Help Public Sector Retirees
  • Articles + News Coverage

Education

  • Villanova University School of Law (L.L.M. in Taxation, 1999)
  • University of Michigan Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1993)
    • Michigan Law Review, Note Editor and Author
  • University of Michigan (B.A., with high distinction, 1990)
    • Harry S. Truman Scholar, University of Michigan

Honors and Awards

  • Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America©, 2006 to Present
  • Martindale-Hubbell® A-V rated
  • Selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2020 - 2022

Associations

Professional

  • Faculty Member, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans’ Certificate of Achievement in Public Plan Policy®, 2007 to Present
  • American Bar Association, 1999 to Present
  • Philadelphia Bar Association, 1995 to Present

Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania, 1995
  • Illinois, 1994
  • Michigan, 1993

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the, Eastern District of, Pennsylvania, 1997

Judicial Clerkships

  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Gerald E. Rosen, 1993-94

Employment

  • Willig, Williams & Davidson, Partner, 2003-Present
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson, Associate, 1995-2002
  • Philadelphia
  • Harrisburg
  • Haddonfield
  • Chicago
  • 215.656.3600
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