Jessica B. Palvino
Practice Areas
Experience
- ERISA Litigation
- Executive and Incentive Compensation
- Health & Welfare Plans
- Public Pension Plans
- Retirement Plans
Biography
Jessica Palvino advises employers, plan sponsors, plan administrators, and tax-exempt entities on the ever-changing world of employee benefits, executive compensation, and tax obligations. As a former in-house counsel for the largest public retirement system in Texas, she understands the operational challenges related to plan sponsorship and administration, and is well-versed in handling regulatory compliance issues and corrections to plan administration errors.
Jessica’s unique background in litigation provides a foundation for her risk-based approach to advising clients. Prior to specializing in employee benefits and executive compensation, she tried multiple cases to jury verdict and administrative hearings to final proposals for decision for both plaintiffs and defendants.
Employers rely on Jessica for assistance in a wide range of employee benefits and executive compensation matters, including design, compliance, and tax issues related to health and welfare plans, retirement plans, deferred compensation plans, stock option and equity compensation plans, incentive bonus plans, severance and employment agreements, and transaction bonus or change-in-control plans.
Education
B.A., Texas A&M University
J.D., cum laude, Baylor Law School
L.L.M., Taxation – Executive Program, New York University School of Law
Bar Admissions
Texas
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2023-2026
- Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, 2025-2026
- Tax Law, 2023-2026
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2014-2016
- Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, Austin Bar Foundation and Austin Bar Association, 2015
- Speaker, “What Every Tax Lawyer Needs to Know When Advising Michael Scott About Equity Compensation,” Tax Law in a Day Conference (February 2024)
- Speaker, “Employee and Independent Contractor Classification Issues,” Tax Law 2023: Tax Law in the Digital Age Conference (August 2023)
- Speaker, “Be Friends With Your Benefits: Five Things Every Corporate Counsel Should Know About Their Company’s Benefits Plan,” The University of Texas School of Law’s (UT Law CLE) 45th Annual Corporate Counsel Institute (May 2023)
- Speaker, “What Every Attorney Needs to Know About Deferred Compensation: A 409A Primer,” Tax Law in a Day Conference (February 2023)
- Speaker, “What Every Employment Lawyer Needs to Know: How ERISA Can Benefit You,” The University of Texas School of Law’s (UT Law CLE) Studio Webcast, (December 2022)
- Sobering Center, Director and Chair of the Board of Directors
- City of Austin Charter Review Commission, Chair, 2024
- State Bar of Texas – Tax Section, Vice-Chair of the Employee Benefits Committee
- Thinkery, Past Director and Past Chair, 2013-2018
- City of Austin Charter Review Commission, Chair, 2018
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 350 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2026 Edition, Including 10 “Lawyers of the Year” and 106 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America, a widely regarded guide to legal excellence, has recognized 350 Jackson Walker attorneys across 87 specialty practice areas in its 2026 edition, including 10 Lawyers of the Year and 106 Ones to Watch.
Attorney News • August 21, 2025
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
Attorney News • August 15, 2024
‘Austin Monthly’ Lists 21 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among “Austin’s Top Attorneys” of 2024
Jackson Walker congratulates the 21 attorneys recognized among Austin Monthly’s list of “Austin’s Top Attorneys” for 2024. For recognition in the list, Austin attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer experienced counsel in one of 39 categories.
Attorney News • July 11, 2024
Jessica Palvino and Alyca Garrison to Present at Tax Law in a Day Conference
Jackson Walker senior counsel Jessica B. Palvino and associate Alyca Garrison are scheduled to present during the Tax Law in a Day Conference, sharing key insights for tax lawyers advising on Equity Compensation Plans.
Speaking Engagements • February 2, 2024
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
Attorney News • August 17, 2023
Jessica Palvino Speaks on Employee and Independent Contractor Classification Issue at Texas Bar CLE Conference
Jackson Walker senior counsel Jessica B. Palvino is scheduled to present during the Tax Law 2023: Tax Law in the Digital Age Conference, providing insights on tax and benefits issues that arise in connection with employee and independent contractor classification.
Speaking Engagements • August 10, 2023
Jessica Palvino to Speak at UT Law CLE’s Corporate Counsel Institute
Jackson Walker senior counsel Jessica B. Palvino is scheduled to present during The University of Texas School of Law’s (UT Law CLE) 45th Annual Corporate Counsel Institute on Friday, May 5, 2023.
Speaking Engagements • April 28, 2023
Jessica Palvino and Alyca Riley Garrison to Speak at Tax Law in a Day Conference
Jackson Walker senior counsel Jessica B. Palvino and associate Alyca Riley Garrison are scheduled to present during the Tax Law in a Day Conference, providing insights on Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. Sponsored by the Tax Section of the State Bar of Texas, the conference will be held online on February 2-3, 2023.
Speaking Engagements • January 27, 2023
Jessica Palvino to Discuss What Employment Lawyers Need to Know About ERISA at UT Law CLE’s Studio Webcast
Jackson Walker senior counsel Jessica B. Palvino is scheduled to present during The University of Texas School of Law Office of Continuing Legal Education (UT Law CLE) Studio Webcast on Thursday, December 15, 2022.
Speaking Engagements • December 7, 2022
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 214 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 Edition, Including 11 “Lawyers of the Year” and 41 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 214 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 79 specialty practice areas in its 2023 edition, including 11 Lawyers of the Year and 41 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
Attorney News • August 18, 2022
Jessica Palvino Joins Jackson Walker’s ERISA Practice in Austin
Jessica Palvino has joined Jackson Walker as a senior counsel in the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (ERISA) practice in Austin. Her practice focuses on helping plan sponsors, plan administrators, and tax-exempt entities navigate the ever-changing world of employee benefits, executive compensation, and tax obligations.
Attorney News • April 12, 2022
Recognition & Accolades
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2023-2026
- Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, 2025-2026
- Tax Law, 2023-2026
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2014-2016
- Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, Austin Bar Foundation and Austin Bar Association, 2015
Publications & Speeches
- Speaker, “What Every Tax Lawyer Needs to Know When Advising Michael Scott About Equity Compensation,” Tax Law in a Day Conference (February 2024)
- Speaker, “Employee and Independent Contractor Classification Issues,” Tax Law 2023: Tax Law in the Digital Age Conference (August 2023)
- Speaker, “Be Friends With Your Benefits: Five Things Every Corporate Counsel Should Know About Their Company’s Benefits Plan,” The University of Texas School of Law’s (UT Law CLE) 45th Annual Corporate Counsel Institute (May 2023)
- Speaker, “What Every Attorney Needs to Know About Deferred Compensation: A 409A Primer,” Tax Law in a Day Conference (February 2023)
- Speaker, “What Every Employment Lawyer Needs to Know: How ERISA Can Benefit You,” The University of Texas School of Law’s (UT Law CLE) Studio Webcast, (December 2022)
Community Involvement
- Sobering Center, Director and Chair of the Board of Directors
- City of Austin Charter Review Commission, Chair, 2024
- State Bar of Texas – Tax Section, Vice-Chair of the Employee Benefits Committee
- Thinkery, Past Director and Past Chair, 2013-2018
- City of Austin Charter Review Commission, Chair, 2018