Overview

Bret Hamlin practices primarily in the areas of employee benefits, deferred compensation and trusts. Prior to entering the private practice of law, he provided plan design and consulting, third-party administration and investment, as well as retirement plan education services for clients.

Bret represents large, medium and small employers with respect to many employee benefit matters, including both single employer and multiple employer qualified retirement plans, executive deferred compensation and welfare benefit plan matters. A significant portion of his practice involves plan compliance, ERISA fiduciary best practices and plan corrections under Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor compliance resolution and plan correction programs. He also represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation with respect to employee benefits matters, including, but not limited to, Internal Revenue Service plan examinations and Department of Labor plan investigations.

Bret is an active member of the Employee Benefits Committee of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation, the Tampa Bay Pension Council and the Florida West Coast Employee Benefits Council. 

Bret frequently speaks to both professional groups and plan sponsor groups regarding a variety of employee benefit topics.

He is active in a number of community and civic organizations. Bret devotes a great deal of time to United States Masters Swimming and its local and regional affiliates.

Honors

  • American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, Fellow (inducted 2015)
  • AV Preeminent® Rating, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review
  • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyer, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (2023-2024)
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (2008-2025)
    • Employee Benefits Law
    • 2021 Tampa Employee Benefits (ERISA) Lawyer of the Year
    • 2017 Tampa Employee Benefits (ERISA) Lawyer of the Year
    • 2014 Tampa Employee Benefits (ERISA) Lawyer of the Year
  • Chambers USA 2024

Credentials & Experience

Education

University of Akron, B.S., 1985

University of Akron School of Law, J.D., 1991

Bar Admissions

American Bar Association

The Florida Bar

Hillsborough County Bar Association

Court Admissions

All Florida State Courts

Professional & Civic

Community & Professional

  • Tampa Bay Pension Council, Chair
  • American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, Member of the Board of Governors, Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair 
  • American Bar Association, Section of Taxation, Employee Benefits Committee, Former Chair
  • American Bar Association, Joint Committee on Employee Benefits, Former Chair 
  • Florida West Coast Employee Benefits Council, Former President 

Newsroom

Noteworthy

Chambers USA ranks the leading lawyers and law firms across the USA. Legal rankings are based on in-depth market analysis and independent research, conducted by an experienced team of researchers. Individual lawyers are ranked in their practice area(s) based on legal knowledge and experience, ability, effectiveness and client service.

“He is very responsive, very knowledgeable and very detail-oriented.” Client quote, Chambers USA 2024

"He is always on top of the issues and is very responsive." Client quote, Chambers USA 2023

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