Robert L. Gauss

Rob Gauss concentrates his practice in helping local and state governmental employers and retirement systems with employee benefit questions and concerns on matters of retirement, health and welfare benefits. This includes working with governmental pension plans and boards across the country on federal tax, compliance, correction and fiduciary issues. In particular, Rob works with clients in the design, administration and federal tax law compliance of their qualified defined benefit and defined contribution/deferred compensation plans. Rob's work with defined contribution/deferred compensation plans includes 401(a), 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) type plans and includes all areas of compliance for the plans under the Internal Revenue Code. By way of example, Rob's work regularly includes assisting the plans with issues related to plan participation/enrollment, employee and employer contributions, required minimum distributions, compensation limits, rollovers and plan-to-plan transfers, 415 limits and plan corrections. The size of the plans with which Rob works ranges from under $1B to over $200B in total assets.

Rob brings a unique perspective to his practice as he also has significant trial experience, having conducted, or been involved in, multiple bench and jury trials in both state and federal courts, as well as commercial arbitrations. Rob's trial experience started before he joined Ice Miller during his service with the United States Marine Corps where he obtained the rank of Captain. During his service as a Judge Advocate, Rob primarily served as a prosecutor and was involved in over 30 criminal trials, primarily as the first chair. Because of his trial experience, Rob is focused on collaborating with our clients as it relates to problem solving.