Darcy Hitesman has 20 years of experience as an Employee Benefits law attorney. Throughout her career, she has been committed to counseling and educating clients, both public sector and private sector, in the areas of employee benefits plan compliance with the Internal Revenue Code, ERISA, HIPAA, FMLA, COBRA and state insurance laws.

Darcy is the founder of Hitesman & Associates. Her vision for Hitesman & Associates focuses on proactively starting at square one to serve education, government and business clients in ERISA, HIPAA, FMLA, COBRA, cafeteria plans, HRAs, and VEBAs – areas in which her insight, innovation and ideas are unmatched.

Darcy is a frequent speaker to legal and non-legal audiences regarding various employee benefits and FMLA topics. She has been a guest speaker for the Minnesota Association of School Board Officials, Minnesota Government Finance Officers Association, Employee Benefits Institute of America, Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust, Minnesota Counties Human Resource Management Association, National School Boards Association, National Association of Health Underwriters, and others. Darcy also presents to other attorneys at Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education and National Law Education Institute.

She is also a prolific writer with over 20 published articles, is the author of "Shopping for Stop-Loss Coverage" published in the Health Benefits Planner, and co-authors the book, ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans, for the Employee Benefits Institute of America (EBIA).

Very active in her community, Darcy currently serves as the Chair of the Minnesota Racing Commission; is a board member of Eagle Community Bank; and is a member of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Advisory Board.

Throughout her career, Darcy has not only been active in her profession and in the community, she has also been recognized for her outstanding work, including being named one of the Top 100 Women Attorneys in Minnesota in 2006 and 2007, one of the Top 50 Women Attorneys in Minnesota in 2002 and a Super Lawyer every year since 2000 (Minnesota Journal of Law & Politics). In addition to these and other legal professional recognitions, Darcy has received awards for her community service.

Darcy received her undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from Coe College and her law degree, cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School. She is licensed to practice law in Minnesota and is a member of the Hennepin County Bar, Minnesota Bar, and American Bar associations.