Mike established our firm in 2006. Previously, he worked as an associate attorney and partner in a Dayton-based labor law practice for 10 years. Mike has represented clients in proceedings in state and federal court, in arbitration proceedings, and before administrative agencies.

Mike regularly speaks at conferences hosted by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and has authored articles published in the Foundation’s Benefits and Compensation Digest. Mike is licensed to practice law in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan, before the Federal courts in the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio, before the Federal Courts in the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana and before the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

After serving with the 1st Armored Division in Erlangen, West Germany, Mike earned a B.A. from Bowling Green State University and a J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law. Mike earned certification as a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist through the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.

Mike is active in the local community and volunteers his time with the Rotary Club and Kiva.

Contact Mike at ledbetter@fringebenefitlaw.com

Publications & Speaking Engagements

Mechanical Contractors Association of Ohio, Using Retirees to Address the Skilled Labor Shortage (Webinar; January 2025)
IFEBP, 70th Annual Conference, "Working with Your Investment Professionals" (San Diego, CA; November 2024)
IFEBP, 70th Annual Conference, "Understanding Cyberliability Insurance" (San Diego, CA; November 2024)
IFEBP, 69th Annual Conference, "ESG Strategies and Portfolios" (Boston, MA; October 2023)
IFEBP, Advanced Trustees, "Health Care Issues and Trends" (San Diego, CA; June 2023)
IFEBP, 68th Annual Conference, "Strategic Planning for Fraud in Employee Benefit Plans" (Las Vegas, NV; October 2022)
American Bar Association Joint Committee on Employee Benefits, "Cybersecurity and Employee Benefits: What Should I Know and Why?" (Virtual; September 2022)
Mechanical Contractors Association of Ohio, Pension Trends and Regulatory Update (Webinar, May 2022)
Mechanical Contractors Association of Ohio, Recruiting Trustees and Use of Professional Trustees (Webinar, May 2022)
Sheet Metal Workers, Eastern Regional Apprenticeship Conference, JATC Trustee Travel & Program Expenses (Clearwater, FL; April 2022)
Employee Benefits Law Update: A Year in Review Series, American Bar Association Joint Committee on Employee Benefits "Cybersecurity: Protections, Best Practices, Guidance, Investigations, Breaches, Ransoms and Litigation" (Virtual; March 2022)
"3 Essential Tools for Monitoring and Preventing Fraud," Benefits Magazine (March/April 2022)
Mechanical Contractors Association of Ohio, Apprenticeship Selection Best Practices (Webinar, January 2022)
"Cybersecurity for Plan Fiduciaries," Benefits Magazine (August 2021)
IFEBP, Fraud Institute, "Important Tools to Monitor for Fraud" (Nashville, TN; July 2021)
IFEBP, 66th Annual Conference, "Cybersecurity: Fiduciary Responsibility and Other Legal Risks," (Virtual; November 2020)
IFEBP, Apprenticeship Institute, “Fiduciary Refresher for U.S. Trustees,” (Rancho Mirage, CA; January 2020)
“Effective Vendor Management: Trustee Legal Obligations and Practical Advice,” Benefits Magazine (December 2019)
IFEBP, Fraud Institute, “Keys to Service Provider Management & Vetting” (Chicago, IL; July 2019)
Sheet Metal Workers, Eastern Regional Apprenticeship Conference, Fiduciary Obligations for Apprenticeship Funds (Orlando, FL; April 2019)
Roofers Midstates District Council Meeting, Proposed Multiemployer Pension Funding Reforms (Columbus, OH; March 2019)
ERISA Boot Camp (Indianapolis, IN; November 2018)
IFEBP, 2018 64th Annual Conference, Apprenticeships in a Right to Work Environment (New Orleans, LA; October 2018)
IFEBP, Fraud Prevention Institute for Employee Benefit Plans, Protecting Participant Data (Boston, MA; July 2018)
IFEBP, Advanced Trustees and Administrators Institute, Cybersecurity, (Orlando, FL; February 2018 and Las Vegas, NV; June 2018)
Sheet Metal Workers, Eastern Regional Apprenticeship Conference, EEO Update (Cleveland, OH; April 2018)
IFEBP, Planning Committee for 2018 Communications in Benefits Conference
IFEBP, Planning Committee for 2018 Fraud Prevention Institute for Employee Benefit Plans
IFEBP, 2017 63rd Annual Conference, Data Privacy and Security—Be Prepared (Las Vegas, NV: October 2017)
Roofers Midstates District Council Meeting, MPRA and PBGC Update (Cincinnati, OH; September 2017)
Apprenticeship Fund Boot Camp (Evansville, IN; September 2017)
IFEBP, Fraud Prevention Institute for Employee Benefit Plans, Protecting Your Participant Data—Part I (Chicago, IL: July 2017)
IFEBP, 2017 Health Care Conference, Securing Your Members’ Data (New Orleans, LA; May, 2017)
ERISA Boot Camp (Columbus, OH; March 2017)
Mechanical Contractors Association of Ohio, Educational Meeting, Multiemployer Reform Act Solutions and ERISA Update (November, 2016; Columbus OH)
IFEBP, Annual Conference, Workshop: A Closer Look into the MPRA Experience (Orlando, FL: November 2016)
Trustee Handbook, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Chapter Contributor
ERISA Boot Camp (Cleveland, OH; September 2016)
Multiple organizations throughout Ohio and Indiana, Multiemployer Pension Relief Act of 2014--Suspension Options for Deeply Troubled Pension Plans (Ohio/Indiana Region-multiple sites, January through June 2016)
ERISA Boot Camp (Columbus, OH; March 2016)
IFEBP, Advanced Trustees and Administrators Institute, Key Pension Decisions, Sessions 1-3 (Orlando, FL; February, 2016 and Las Vegas, NV; June 2016)
“Pension Plan Assumptions- The Importance of Getting It Right,” Benefits Magazine (January 2016)
IFEBP, 61st Annual Employee Benefit Conference, Multiemployer Pension Reform Act- Solutions for Severely Troubled Pension Plans (Honolulu, HI; November 2015)
IFEBP, Construction and Collections Institutes, Realistic Plan Assumptions (Las Vegas, NV; September 2015)
Multiple organizations throughout Ohio and Indiana, Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014-A Lifeline for Deeply Troubled Pension Plans (Ohio/Indiana Region-multiple sites, January through March 2015)
Sheet Metal and Mechanical Contractors Associations, Membership Educational Meeting, Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014, Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act and Document Retention Requirements (Cincinnati, OH; February 2015)
IFEBP, 60th Annual Employee Benefit Conference, What To Do If You’re Hacked (Boston, MA; October 2014)
Roofers Mid-States District Council Meeting, Update on PPACA and Possible Pension Funding Reform (Cincinnati, OH; June 2014)
Central States Insulation Association, Annual Spring Labor Conference, Membership Educational Meeting, Update on Pension Reform and the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (Lexington, KY; April 2014)
Sheet Metal and Mechanical Contractors Associations, Membership Educational Meeting, Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, Pension Reform and Collections Issues (Cincinnati, OH; March 2014)
IFEBP, 59th Annual Employee Benefit Conference, HIPAA (Las Vegas, NV; October 2013)
IFEBP, Construction and Collections Institutes, Employer Withdrawal Liability (Boston, MA; September 2013)
“Labor-Management Cooperation Committees—A Fresh Look at an Old Stalwart,” Benefits Magazine (June 2013)
Sheet Metal Workers, Eastern Regional Apprenticeship Conference, Navigating the Regulatory Landscape (National Harbor, MD; April 2013)

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