Specialists in ERISA and Employee Benefits Law​

KLB Benefits

Kathleen Salas Bass

Of Counsel

kathleen headshot

Kathleen Salas Bass has more than 20 years specializing in employee benefits law, with an emphasis on qualified retirement plans and health and welfare plans. She has written extensively on employee benefits issues and has contributed to the Journal of Pension Benefits. She is committed to the education of plan sponsors and plan service providers on benefit compliance and best practices.

Kathleen has taken an active role in the employee benefits community, including leadership responsibilities for the Western Pension & Benefits Council, both locally and regionally. She joined KLB Benefits Law Group as of counsel in 2021. Prior to that, she was of counsel with Boutwell Fay for 18 years. Early in her career she was an associate with the law firms of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, DLA Piper, and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman.

Member:

The State Bar of California
Western Pension & Benefits Council, Orange County and San Diego Chapters
Board of Directors, Western Pension & Benefits Council, Orange County and San Diego Chapters

Leadership:

President, Governing Board of the Western Pension & Benefits Council, 2012-2013
Steering Committee, Western Benefits Conference, 2011-2014
President, Western Pension & Benefits Council, Orange County Chapter, 2010-2012
Programs Chair, Western Pension & Benefits Council, Orange County Chapter, 2006-2008
Special Events Chair, Western Pension & Benefits Council, Orange County Chapter, 2003-2006
Spring Conference Committee, Western Pension & Benefits Council, San Diego Chapter, 2003

Admitted:

1998, California

Law School:

Stanford Law School, J.D., 1998
Editor, Stanford Law and Policy Review, 1995

University:

University of California, Irvine, B.A., Dean’s List, 1987