John R. Keegan - Boston, MA
Attorney at The Wagner Law Group
ERISA Law Lawyers in Boston, MA
One Financial Center Suite 3610 Boston, MA 02111
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
49
Years
Experience
Boston ERISA Law Lawyer
Updated: 03/10/2026
Areas of Practice
- ERISA Law
- Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation
- Trusts & Estates
Attorney Information
Overview
John Keegan has been a partner at The Wagner Law Group since 2003, specializing in ERISA and Employee Benefits law. He advises clients on a wide variety of issues with respect to qualified retirement plans, tax-sheltered annuities, nonqualified deferred compensation, VEBAs, welfare plans, split-dollar life insurance arrangements, multiemployer plans and related withdrawal liability issues, and executive compensation.
John has extensive experience in drafting and reviewing defined benefit and defined contribution plans for compliance with ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. He has represented clients before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Department of Labor (DOL), and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), and has negotiated with the IRS to obtain favorable determination letters for all types of qualified retirement plans. Additionally, John advises clients regarding redesign of combined 401(k)/ESOP plans, defined benefit cash balance conversions, and implementation of 404(k) dividend deduction strategies for ESOPs. He also provides counsel with respect to pre-funded retiree medical plans using grantor trusts and VEBAs.
Prior to the Wagner Law Group, John served as senior consultant for PriceWaterHouseCoopers in the Legal and Regulatory Compliance Department, as senior research attorney for Aon Consulting, and as senior pension attorney at The New England Mutual Life Insurance Company. John also served as associate counsel and advanced underwriting officer at Sun Life Assurance Company
of Canada.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Massachusetts Super Lawyers List, New England Super Lawyers Magazine, 2006-2013
- Subject of Biographical Record, Who's Who in Finance and Business
- Subject of Biographical Record, Who's Who in Emerging Leaders in America
- Subject of Biographical Record, Who's Who in American Law
- Subject of Biographical Record, Who's Who in America
Other Sources of Feedback About John R. Keegan
Included on the 2013 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2012 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
- 2011 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
- 2010 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
- 2009 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
- 2008 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
- 2007 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
- 2006 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
-
Suffolk University Law School,
Boston,
Massachusetts
J.D.
Honors: cum laude -
Boston University School of Law,
Boston,
Massachusetts
LL.M
Major: Taxation
-
Suffolk University Law School,
Boston,
Massachusetts
-
Non Legal Education
-
Suffolk University
B.S.B.A.
Honors: cum laude -
American College ,
Byrn Mawr,
Pennsylvania
CLU, ChFP
-
Suffolk University
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Partner
Past Positions
- PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Global Human Resources Solutions Group, Legal and Regulatory Compliance, Senior Consultant, 1997 - 2003
- Aon Consulting (formerly The Alexander Consulting Group), Senior Research Attorney, 1990 - 1997
- The New England Mutual Life Insurance Company, Senior Pension Attorney, 1989 - 1990
- Flynn, Joyce & Sheridan, Associate, 1987 - 1989
- Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, Advanced Underwriting Officer, 1983 - 1987
- Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, Assistant Counsel, 1981 - 1983
- New England Mutual Life Insurance Company, Pension Legal Specialist; Group Pension Attorney; Pension Attorney, 1975 - 1981
- New England Mutual Life Insurance Company, Group Pension Administrator, 1972 - 1975
Classes and Seminars
-
Instructor, Bentley College, Center for Continuing Education, Waltham, MA. 1981–1987
-
Instructor, Insurance Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA. 1985–1987
-
Speaker, Massachusetts Society of CPAs. 1985–1987
-
Speaker, Enrolled Actuaries' Meeting, Washington, DC. 1994
-
Speaker, Bentley College National Federal Tax Institute 1997
-
Member of Editorial Advisory Board of Journal of Deferred Compensation
- Time to Act to Cut Your DB Plan Risk - P-Solve Cassidy Seminar, Newton, MA, April 9, 2014
Published Works
Articles
-
Boston Bar Journal; BNA Pension Reporter; RIA Executive Compensation Coordinator; Journal of Deferred Compensation; Journal of Pension Planning Compliance; CCH Pension Plan Guide. 1980 – present
-
BNA Pension Reporter
-
RIA Executive Compensation Coordinator
-
Journal of Deferred Compensation
-
Journal of Pension Planning Compliance
- CCH Pension Plan Guide. 1980 – Present
Bar Admissions
- Massachusetts, 1977
Other Affiliations
- Member of Editorial Advisory Board of Journal of Deferred Compensation
- Instructor, Bentley College, Center for Continuing Education, Waltham, MA. 1981 – 1987
- Instructor, Insurance Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA. 1985 – 1987
Contact
One Financial Center
Suite 3610
Boston, MA 02111
Phone: 617-357-5200
Fax: 617-357-5250
Email: Send a message
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