Michelle McCarthy, Alfred Smith Recognized as “Visionaries in Law”

Michelle McCarthy and Alfred Smith were recognized by Los Angeles Times B2B Publishing in its fifth annual Legal Visionaries list. The list highlights professionals working in the legal space whose dedication to the rule of law and their clients sets the standard in the Los Angeles market.

Michelle is highlighted for having “over 20 years of legal experience in employee benefits and taxation” and advising a “diverse clientele—including tax-exempt organizations, governmental plans and Fortune 100 companies—on the design, compliance and administration of retirement, health and welfare benefit plans.” The supplement goes on to note she “specializes in regulatory compliance, fiduciary duties, tax qualifications and policy development for both private and public sector plans” and adds she “represents clients before the IRS, DOL and PBGC in audits, compliance programs and corrective filings and advises on data privacy and cybersecurity for benefit plans.”

Alfred is lauded for his position as “chair of Nossaman’s Water Group” and for being a “leading expert in water, environmental, transportation and public agency law.” The Times noted he has “secured more than $750 million in contamination settlements and successfully litigated multiple water rights adjudications, including a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court victory.” His profile further states he “advises on water rights, SGMA, Colorado River issues, contamination remediation and environmental compliance and also guides public agencies on governance, CEQA and public contracting, as well as serving on boards including the Water Education Foundation (where he was recently elected President) and the California Special Districts Association’s Legal Advisory Committee.”