Rick Nowak rejoined Mayer Brown as a partner in its litigation and dispute resolution practice in Chicago. Nowak, an experienced trial lawyer and nationally recognized Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) litigator and former co-chair of the ERISA Litigation practice, returns to Mayer Brown from Fidelity Investments. At Fidelity, Nowak led a team of lawyers responsible for the firm’s retirement and health plan litigation, regulatory enforcement matters, and participant and beneficiary disputes.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rick back to Mayer Brown,” Michael Olsen, leader of Mayer Brown’s litigation and dispute resolution practice, said. “Rick’s deep industry knowledge, proven leadership and extensive experience in the field of ERISA litigation will further strengthen our position as a global powerhouse in employee benefits litigation. His return is a key part of our strategic plan to expand our capabilities in Chicago and nationwide, and to ensure the continued growth and succession of our ERISA practice.”
Nowak is a key addition to the firm’s renowned ERISA litigation practice, as he brings a wealth of experience representing plan sponsors, plan administrators, fiduciaries and trustees and third-party service providers, including recordkeepers and investment advisors, in high-stakes class actions and other complex litigation and enforcement matters. His practice spans all types of benefit plans, including defined contribution, defined benefit, health and welfare, top hat and other non-qualified plans. In addition, Nowak has substantial experience advising clients with respect to their plan investments, service providers arrangements, and other financial offerings, including alternative investments, digital assets and cryptocurrencies.
“I am honored and excited to return to Mayer Brown and rejoin a team that is at the forefront of ERISA litigation and unrivaled in its experience and success defending the most complex ERISA disputes,” Nowak said. “The firm’s deep bench, including its trial and appellate expertise, collaborative culture and commitment to client service create an unmatched environment for delivering innovative and practical solutions to clients facing complex legal and regulatory challenges. I look forward to helping Mayer Brown’s clients navigate the ever-evolving litigation and regulatory landscape by leveraging my experience at Fidelity Investments, where we strove each day to help our plan sponsor clients provide dynamic benefit programs to their employees. I also look forward to contributing to the continued growth and success of Mayer Brown’s litigation and dispute resolution practice.”
“We are delighted to welcome Rick back to Mayer Brown and to our Chicago office,” Joanna Horsnail, managing partner of Mayer Brown’s Chicago office, said. “Rick’s exceptional track record, industry relationships and reputation and leadership in the ERISA litigation and broader benefits community will be invaluable as we continue to expand our capabilities and serve the needs of our clients. His return reflects our ongoing commitment to investing in top-tier talent and maintaining our position as a leader in employee benefits litigation both in Chicago and across the country.”
Nowak is the fourth partner to rejoin the firm’s Chicago office since March 2025, following the recent returns of Avi Kupfer, Veronica Glick and Lei Shen.
Additionally, Mayer Brown added Joanna Suna as a partner in its banking and finance and collateralized loan obligations (CLO) groups in the New York office.
“Joanna has significant experience advising issuers, underwriters, portfolio managers and monoline insurers on CLOs, securities repackagings and other types of complex structured products,” Ryan Suda, partner in Mayer Brown’s banking and finance practice, said. “Her breadth and depth of experience in CLO transactions and other structured products will be of tremendous value to clients, and we are thrilled to have her join Mayer Brown.”
Suna represents issuers, underwriters and portfolio managers covering a wide range of transactional and regulatory issues involving CLOs, securities repackagings and other types of complex structured products. As lead lawyer on these transactions, she has assisted clients in negotiating and structuring all legal aspects of the transaction through the full deal life-cycle, including origination, warehousing, structuring, distribution, execution, closing, post-closing and liquidation. Suna has negotiated and resolved transaction issues with third-party deal participants, including collateral managers, key investors, rating agencies, monolines and other counsel and has analyzed and provided solutions to legal issues including securities laws, tax and ERISA considerations. She is also experienced in different types and uses of swaps in such transactions, as well as in warehousing and funding facilities and secondary repackagings of related products.
“I was especially drawn to Mayer Brown’s depth and quality of legal services and international platform,” Suna said. “I look forward to handling CLOs at the highest level with talented lawyers across Mayer Brown’s various offices and practices to build upon the firm’s established banking and finance practice and esteemed reputation in client service.”
“We are relentless in our focus on high caliber lateral hires that align with our global growth plans,” Allison Aviki, managing partner of Mayer Brown’s New York office, said. “Joanna will bolster our positioning as a firm with top level CLO and banking and finance practices in New York and further enhance our excellent support for clients with complex transactions.”
