Kent Mason Featured in Pensions & Investments Article on Pension Risk Transfer Litigation and Recently Filed Amicus Briefs
- Published Date: February 25, 2026
Davis & Harman Partner, Kent Mason, was featured in a Pensions & Investments article titled, “Corporate Plan Sponsors Forge Ahead on Plan Buyouts and Terminations as Flurry of Litigation Wanes,” where he discussed litigation brought against plan sponsors who engaged in pension risk transfer transactions and recently filed amicus briefs in support of defendants.
The Pensions & Investments article reported on the pension risk transfer market activity in 2025, and the trend of litigation brought against plan sponsors in pension buyout transactions. The article states that the majority of judges that have made rulings thus far have done so in favor of defendants’ motions to dismiss.
Mason is quoted stating that, “[a]mong the 10 lawsuits outstanding because of consolidation, four have been dismissed subject to either appeal or leave to amend the filing, and in one, the magistrate has recommended dismissal, so in some ways you can characterize that as five dismissals out of the 10 suits.” Of the five remaining suits, Bristol Myers Squibb and Lockheed Martin have seen their motions to dismiss denied.
The article states that amicus briefs in support of defendants have emerged in recent months, including one filed by the Department of Labor in Konya v. Lockheed Martin in support of the defendants. Mason believes the amicus briefs, including the one filed by DOL, supporting Lockheed Martin are strong. He is quoted saying “[h]owever, if the Lockheed Martin case goes badly for the defendants – I personally do not think that will happen, but it is possible – that could cause a sort of a new flurry of lawsuits.”
A link to the full article can be found here.
