Robert J. D'Anniballe Jr
Managing Partner
Columbus Office
21 E. State Street, Suite 200
Columbus, Ohio 43215
E-mail: rob.danniballe@qpwblaw.com
Charleston Office
1038 Quarrier Street, Suite 100
Charleston, West Virginia 25301
Robert J. D'Anniballe Jr. is the Managing Partner for the Columbus, OH and Charleston, WV Hubs of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. and leads the firm's ERISA and Employee Benefits national practice group. As a seasoned attorney, Mr. D'Anniballe's practice focuses on corporate, complex commercial, financial, and professional liability matters. He has a national practice representing actuaries and other employee benefit professionals. His national practice also includes advising plan sponsors of pension, retirement, and health and welfare plans on fiduciary duty matters along with corporate governance, D&O, financial disclosure, and other related matters. He has significant experience in the use of Life Insurance products in retirement, estate, employee retention, and succession plans. Mr. D'Anniballe is also a licensed Life Agent in several states including Florida, Illinois, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Mr. D'Anniballe has been recognized in both the 2024 and 2025 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® for his work in ERISA Litigation.
Examples of Mr. D'Anniballe's relevant experience include:
ERISA:
- Served on pension investment and retirement committees for a plan exceeding $300 million in assets, managing investment policies, asset allocation, disputes, vendor management, benefit freeze amendments, and PBGC terminations.
- Former outside general counsel for a Fortune 400 company employee-owners (largest ESOP in the country at the time).
- National counsel for defined benefit design coordinators in fraud and tax matters.
- Handled over 200 cases nationally and in the UK involving actuarial issues, Taft Hartley plans, withdrawal liability, and underfunding, with some damages exceeding $100 million.
- Managed numerous pre-suit benefit claims in state and federal courts and arbitration.
- Provided risk management consulting and DOL audits for 401(k), 403(b), ESOPs, and other qualified plans.
- Achieved PPC (Professional Plan Consultant) designation.
Labor & Employment:
- Successfully negotiated dozens of labor agreements with attendant pension, health and welfare matters in the private and public sector. Private sector negotiations involved steel, automotive, paper, beverage, and healthcare industries. Public sector agreements involved both county, municipal, and regional transit authority agreements;
- Successfully handled the resolution of dozens NLRB charges, and employment discrimination complaints before state and federal regulatory agencies, including OSHA citations and FLSA complaints;
- Successfully handled hundreds of disputes and grievances through alternative dispute resolution processes, including mediation, arbitration, and Federal Special Master proceedings;
- Handled numerous judicial enforcements and appeals of arbitration decisions; and
- Litigated numerous employment-related matters in State and Federal Courts, including employment discrimination, equal pay, retaliatory discharge, Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act (USERRA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Workers Compensation:
- Successfully handled numerous workers' compensation matters before administrative agencies and various courts throughout Ohio and West Virginia; and
- Represented numerous Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) and Coal Miner/Black Lung claims.
Licensed to practice in Ohio and West Virgina, Mr. D'Anniballe is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States of America, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern District of West Virginia, U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern District of Ohio, United States Tax Court, along with All Courts of the State of Ohio and State of West Virginia. He has also been a featured speaker at professional engagements, including presenting "The New Fiduciary Rules: Practical Steps for the Employer" in Pittsburgh, PA, on November 3, 2016.
Memberships & Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- DRI Insurance Law Committee
- Hancock County Bar Association
- Jefferson County Bar Association
- Serves as Board of Advisors Member of Franciscan University;
- Serves as a Member of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans;
- Served as Board of Directors Member of the Jefferson County, Ohio Port Authority;
- Served as a Member of the Board for the Trinity Health System Foundation;
- Served as a Commission Member and Vice Chair of the City of Steubenville Civil Service;
- Previously appointed by Governor Taft to the Advisory Board on Amusement Ride Safety as an Insurance Industry Representative;
- Served as a Member of the Board of Directors of a publicly-traded NYSE and Employee-Owned Company (Weirton Steel Corporation) for 15 years;
- Served as a Member of the Auditing Committee for 15 years and chaired the Corporate Responsibility Committee for 3 years of Weirton Steel Corporation