Richard McHugh Joins PSCA as Vice President of Washington Affairs

PSCA is excited to welcome Rich McHugh on board as its Vice President of Washington Affairs, effective as of September 1, 2015.  Rich has been heavily involved with PSCA for more than 30 years and has worked closely with Ed Ferrigno, his predecessor, and Sam Murray, Ed’s predecessor.  Rich will continue PSCA’s long tradition of being the voice of the plan sponsor in Washington as he follows in Ed’s and Sam’s distinguished footsteps.  Rich will be a great resource to PSCA’s members and will be a fierce advocate on their behalf in Washington. 

As a member of PSCA’s Legal and Legislative committee for the past 30 years, and more recently as a member of PSCA’s Board of Directors, Rich is intimately familiar with PSCA’s legacy of advocacy on behalf of the plan sponsor, and has been an active participant in countless advocacy efforts on behalf of PSCA’s members, including drafting proposed legislation, preparing comment letters, meeting with government officials, and testifying before relevant government agencies and councils, including the ERISA Advisory Council.  Most recently, Rich was instrumental in developing PSCA’s comments to the DOL regarding their re-proposed fiduciary rule. 

Rich earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. and went on to receive his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.  He has worked in law firms for 35 years specializing in employee benefits matter.  Rich was a long–time partner with the law firm of Dow Lohnes PLLC, which for many years served as PSCA’s outside counsel, in Washington D.C.  In 2010, Rich joined the law firm of Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP in that firm’s Washington, D.C. office as a partner, where he will remain Of Counsel. 

Rich is a specialist in all areas of employee benefits law, including qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, ESOP’s, and health and welfare benefit plans, with considerable experience handling employee benefit plan issues in the context of mergers and acquisitions, takeovers, and dispositions.  For many years he has provided consultation and advice regarding legislative and regulatory developments affecting the employee benefits industry, including retirement, health care, executive compensation matters, and related human resource issues.

“PSCA is thrilled to have Rich on board to continue to bring PSCA’s message to Washington,” said Steve McCaffrey, Chair of PSCA’s Board of Directors. “His vast knowledge of the defined contribution system, as well as related employee benefits programs, combined with his knowledge of PSCA and its interactions in Washington will be a tremendous asset to PSCA and most importantly, to its members.”