James P. Rankin

Mr. Rankin’s practice focuses on employee benefits law as it relates to public, private, governmental and tax exempt organizations. Mr. Rankin’s work emphasizes regulatory, ERISA and tax law rules applicable to pension, profit sharing, tax sheltered annuity and health and life insurance plans. A large part of his practice involves insurance regulatory and compliance issues including those related to product documentation and regulatory approval particularly with regard to tax qualification issues. Finally, Mr. Rankin is the firm’s senior Public Policy and Governmental Affairs lawyer. Mr. Rankin undertakes Governmental Affairs work for select clients. Mr. Rankin enjoys Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory’s highest “AV” rating for lawyers and has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® and the Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers® list. Mr. Rankin is the Foulston Siefkin representative with State Law Resources, Inc., a national network of independent law firms, selected for their expertise in administrative, regulatory, and government relations at the state and federal level.

Education

• New York University (LL.M., Taxation, 1977)
• Washburn University (J.D., 1976)
  Assistant Editor - Washburn Law Journal
• Washburn University (B.A., 1973)

Admissions

• Kansas (1976)

• Employee Benefits & ERISA
• Employment & Labor
• Business & Corporate Law
• Insurance Regulatory
• Administrative/Regulatory
• Governmental Affairs & Public Policy Law
• ERISA Litigation

• Banking & Financial Services
• Government
• Insurance

• Washburn University Endowment Association - Board of Directors
• Topeka Downtown Rotary Club
• Leadership Topeka - Graduate

Mr. Rankin represents both large and small employers in ERISA, insurance, and employment law matters.

Also, Mr. Rankin represents multiple clients pursuing interests in the governmental and legislative arenas.

• Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® in the areas of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Government Relations Practice, and Litigation – ERISA, 1987 - 2025, and Administrative / Regulatory Law, 2021-2025
• Selected for inclusion in Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers® List, 2006, 2012 - 2018 (a Thomson Reuters business)
• American Bar Association Sections of Tax and Labor and Employment Law
• Kansas Bar Association
• Topeka Bar Association Board of Directors, Past President, 2015-2016
• American Bar Foundation Fellow
• Kansas Bar Foundation Fellow

2018

• Roundup of Current Ethics Issues and Cases - Federal, State and Local, Co-Presenter (Foulston Siefkin’s Topeka Ethics Seminar for Corporate Counsel)

2012

• Tax and Accounting Issues for the Occasional Financial Lawyer (Topeka Bar Association, 8-Hour CLE Extravaganza)

2016

• President's Column
  -Topeka Bar Association TBA Briefings, January 2016
• President's Column
  -Topeka Bar Association TBA Briefings, February 2016
• President's Column
  -Topeka Bar Association TBA Briefings, March 2016
• President's Column
  -Topeka Bar Association TBA Briefings, April 2016

2015

• Defining Liberty
  -Topeka Bar Association TBA Briefings, May 2015
• Defining Liberty
  -Topeka Bar Association TBA Briefings, June 2015
• Defining Liberty
  -Topeka Bar Association TBA Briefings, July 2015
• Defining Liberty
  -Topeka Bar Association TBA Briefings, August 2015
• Defining Rule of Law
  -Topeka Bar Association TBA Briefings, September 2015
• Defining Rule of Law
  -Topeka Bar Association TBA Briefings, October 2015
• Defining Rule of Law
  -Topeka Bar Association TBA Briefings, November 2015
• Defining Rule of Law
  -Topeka Bar Association TBA Briefings, December 2015

2010

• Kansas Lobbying Section
  -LawForChange, Lex Mundi

1992

• The Lawyer’s Role in Designing and Drafting Self-Insured Group Medical Plans.
  -Kansas Bar Association Journal

2005

• PAYROLL GUIDANCE: IRS SUSPENDS INFORMATION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR DEFERRED COMPENSATION

2004

• New Rules Affect Executive Compensation Plans