NYC ERISA & Long Term Disability Attorney

Location: 110 East 42nd Street, Suite 1418, New York, 10017
Phone: 212.297.0700 ext. 1030
Email: jhess@riemerhess.com

My Current Practice

I oversee our firm’s litigation strategy, attorney development, and daily operations. I lead many of our most complex ERISA long term disability cases in federal court while supervising our appeals and claims advocacy teams to ensure consistency and quality across all matters.

Since joining the firm in 2016 and becoming a Partner in 2020, I’ve helped guide hundreds of professionals and executives through their ERISA long term disability and life insurance claims — from early-stage strategy and claim filings to administrative appeals, pre-litigation resolution, and full-scale federal litigation.

I focus exclusively on representing claimants and plaintiffs, never insurance companies. Whether we’re navigating around a mental illness limitation, preparing for a Change in Definition, or holding an insurer accountable for an unfair denial, I approach every case with a clear plan and practical strategy.

My Philosophy

Most of our clients come to us during times of extreme uncertainty — worried about their income, their health, and their future. I take that trust seriously.

My philosophy is simple: be clear, be responsive, and never let the client feel alone in the process. When someone hires us, they’re trusting us to carry the legal weight so they can focus on their health. That means giving them honest answers, preparing them for what’s next, and making sure they’re never left wondering what’s going on with their case.

Clients deserve to be heard, involved, and confident that their attorney is fully in control of the process.

Leadership & Litigation

• Ensure every client receives top-notch, empathetic service in line with our firm’s mission and values

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the firm, including attorney supervision and litigation strategy

• Serve as lead counsel on ERISA long term disability litigation in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) and 2nd Circuit

• Oversee high-value cases involving ERISA LTD benefit eligibility, traumatic brain injury (TBI) claims, underpayment disputes, change in definition of disability transitions, mental illness limitations, and medical-vocational assessments

• Guide internal procedures for claim success, appeal development, benefit protection, and quality control

Publications & Presentations

I am a regular writer and lecturer on long term disability topics. 

Books:

• • A Personal Injury Attorney's Guide to TBI LTD Claims: Traumatic Brain Injury in Long Term Disability Claims: Strategies for Success (2024)

  • An Employment Attorney's Guide to ERISA Long Term Disability Claims (2022)

  • ERISA Disability Claims and Litigation (2021)

Articles: 

• • Tackling Disability Defenses in TBI Cases, American Association for Justice (AAJ) Trial Magazine (2024)
  • Assessing the 2018 ERISA LTD Claims Regulations: Five Years Later, American Bar Associaion (ABA) Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal: (2024) 
  • What Every Employment Attorney Advising Individuals Should Know About Long-Term Disability, New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Labor and Employment Law Journal

CLE Courses (Faculty, Lawline.com):

• • Understanding & Navigation ERISA Long Term Disability Policies
  • A Practical Guide to ERISA Long Term Disability Claims
  • Appeal Strategies for ERISA Long Term Disability Claims
  • Effective Client Counseling for Clients with Disabilities
  • Strategies for ERISA Long Term Disability Litigations
  • Navigating the Intersection of Employment Law and Long Term Disability Claims

Speaking Engagements:

• • New York Employment Lawyer's Association (NELA) New York Fall Conference 2022, Fordham Law School, What Employment Lawyers Should Know About ERISA Disability Claims
  • Updated Version presented virtually in 2025.

My Background

I’ve spent over a decade working with individuals facing disability, illness, and injury.

After graduating magna cum laude from Stony Brook University with a B.A. in Political Science, I worked as a legal writer helping people obtain Social Security Disability benefits. While the work was meaningful, I wanted to play a larger role — so I enrolled at St. John’s University School of Law.

After earning my J.D. in 2013, I continued advocating for people with disabilities, both at the administrative level and through federal litigation. That work prepared me for the more complex and faster-moving world of ERISA and private disability insurance. I joined Riemer & Associates (now Riemer Hess) in 2016, drawn by the firm’s values and dedication to doing meaningful work. It was an easy decision — and the right one.

Outside of Our Firm

Most weekends, you’ll find me hiking the trails of the Hudson Valley with my husband and our two rescue dogs. I also enjoy kayaking — especially on the North Fork of Long Island — and I’m an avid fiction reader. I’ve visited over a dozen countries and love discovering new places through walking, paddling, and local food.

Contact our New York Disability Lawyers

If you are in need of a lawyer to represent you or if you have any questions regarding a case, contact our New York Disability Lawyers.  Call us at 212-297-0700.