Darcy Hitesman has 25 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 HitesmanLaw. Her vision for HitesmanLaw 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 Employee Benefits Institute of America, Employers Council on Flexible Compensation, Minnesota Association of School Business Officials, Association of School Business Officials International, Minnesota Government Finance Officers Association, Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust, Minnesota Counties Human Resource Management Association, National School Boards Association, National Association of Health Underwriters, Minnesota State Negotiators, Northstar Chapter of the American Payroll Association, and many 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, and is a contributing author towards the book, Self-Insured Health Plans, for the Employee Benefits Institute of America (EBIA). She also serves on the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation Technical Advisory Committee.
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.
- 2007 Top 100 Women Attorneys in Minnesota designation by Journal of Law and Politics.
- 2007 Who’s Who in Employment Law designated by Journal of Law and Politics.
- 2007 Top 40 Employment Law Attorneys in Minnesota designation by Journal of Law and Politics.
- 2000-present Super Lawyer designation by Journal of Law and Politics.
- 2006 Top 100 Women Attorneys in Minnesota designation by Journal of Law and Politics.
- 2002 Top 50 Women Attorneys in Minnesota designation by Journal of Law and Politics.
- 2003 Who’s Who in Employment Law designated by Journal of Law and Politics.
- 2003, 2002, and 2001 Strathmore’s Who’s Who.
- 1999 Rising Star designation by Journal of Law and Politics.
- 1999 CityBusiness 40 Under 40.
- 1998 AV Rated by Martindale Hubbell.
- 1998 Rising Star designation by Journal of Law and Politics.
- 1996 Rotary International District Governor’s Award for Community Service; 1996 President’s Award for Exceptional Service Above Self.
- 1995 Minnesota Senate Proclamation for Community Service.
- 1995 Twin West Chamber of Commerce Woman of Achievement Award.
- Minnesota Racing Commission, Chair (July 1, 2004 through January 31, 2010); Commissioner (October 2003 – June 30, 2004).
- Eagle Community Bank, Board of Directors, member (April 2003 through present).
- Hennepin County Sheriff’s Advisory Board, member (1996 through present).
- Project OffStreets (Youth Diversion Program through the United Way), project volunteer, donation organizer, and volunteer attorney (1988 through 2000).
- Maple Grove Arts Council, volunteer attorney (1998 through 2000).
- Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), board member appointed by Governor Carlson (1993 through 1999); Chair Affirmative Action Committee (1995 through 1999).
- Twin West Chamber of Commerce; member (1991 through 1999); past Chair Woman of Achievement Program (1996); past Chair Women’s Network Committee (1996 through 1997); participant in President’s Task Force on Awards Programs (1998); past Chair Karen Gibbs’ Career Change Scholarship Program (1998).
- Habitat for Humanity; Doherty, Rumble & Butler, P.A., organizer (1997 through 1999).
- North Hennepin Community College Foundation, Board member (1995 through 1998); Treasurer and Executive Committee member (1996 through 1998); representative to the Presidential Search Committee.
- Maple Grove D.A.R.E. House, volunteer attorney and fundraiser (1995 through 1996).
- Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, Chair of Once Upon a Saturday Night Fundraising event (1994 and 1996).
- Rotary International Maple Grove; member (1995 through 1996); Chair Community Service Committee (1995 through 1996).
- Maple Grove Planning Commission; board member (1989 through 1995).
- Regional Review Commission West Metro Area; board member appointed by Governor Perpich, board member (1988 through 1990).
Presentations:
APRIL 28, 2016 – Employee Benefits Institute of America (EBIA); Webinar: Form 5500
MAY 12, 2016 – Employee Benefits Institute of America (EBIA); Webinar: Cafeteria Plans and Nondiscrimation Testing
MAY 17, 2016 – Employee Benefits Institute of America (EBIA); Cafeteria Plans; Minneapolis, Minnesota.
May 25, 2016: Employee Benefits Institute of America (EBIA); Webinar: Health FSA/DCAP Nondiscrimation Testing
July 13 – 15, 2016 – Employee Benefits Institute of America (EBIA); Advanced Cafeteria Plans and Benefits Conference 2016; Seattle, WA
SEPTEMBER 15, 2016: Employee Benefits Institute of America (EBIA); Webinar: Bundled Plans & Health Care Reform
Publications:
Darcy Hitesman, “Take a Deep Breath, GAS[P]B OPEB Reporting is Looming,” School Business Affairs, December 2005.
Darcy Hitesman, contributor to League of Minnesota Cities, “Implementing New Benefit Programs,” HR Update, January 2005.
Darcy Hitesman, Esq. Co-Author, ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans, Employee Benefits Institute of America (September 1999 – present).