Ruel Pile is a nationally recognized employee benefits attorney with over 25 years of experience at the intersection of ERISA, tax law, health law, and executive compensation. A trusted advisor to Fortune 500 companies, private equity-backed businesses, and healthcare innovators, Mr. Pile has built a career as a pragmatic problem-solver across corporate, law firm, and government settings.
Mr. Pile began his legal career in Washington, DC, ultimately serving as a Senior Pension Law Specialist in the Office of Regulations and Interpretations at the U.S. Department of Labor. He later led Deloitte’s Compensation & Benefits Practice for the DC region, advised clients on ERISA and IRC compliance as in-house benefits counsel at OptumRx, ConAgra Foods, Allegion, and Transcarent, and held senior roles at national law firms including Sherman & Howard and Boutwell Fay LLP. In each role, he has demonstrated deep technical knowledge of retirement plans, health and welfare arrangements, and executive compensation structures, as well as a practical ability to manage regulatory risk, oversee high-stakes audits, and guide successful M&A transactions.
Known for his fluency in complex legal regimes including ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, 409A, 4975, and the Corporate Practice of Medicine doctrine, Mr. Pile has advised investment committees, drafted executive equity plans, handled vendor RFPs from both employer and service provider perspectives, and resolved benefit disputes through litigation management and settlement. He is equally adept at helping clients navigate emerging healthcare regulations, technology and privacy challenges, and evolving DOL and IRS enforcement priorities.
Mr. Pile holds an LL.M. in Taxation (with distinction) from Georgetown University Law Center, where he also completed coursework for the Employee Benefits Certificate. He earned his J.D. from Suffolk University Law School and his B.A. cum laude in Economics from Western New England University. He is admitted to practice in Florida, California, and the District of Columbia, and is currently pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Health & Hospital Law at Seton Hall Law School.
