Robert R. Gower

(415) 788-3111  
(415) 421-2017  
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Education

  • J.D., 2009
    University of California, Davis
    Martin Luther King Jr. School of Law
    Editor-in-Chief, UC Davis Journal of Juvenile Law & Policy
    Witkin Award for Excellence, Local Government Law
    Moot Court Member
  • B.A., Honors, International Relations, 2006,
    University of California, Davis

Professional Career

  • 2009 - Present
    Director, Trucker Huss (Associate Prior to 2017)
    San Francisco, California

Professional Licenses
and Affiliations

  • Member, The State Bar of California
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Bar Association of San Francisco
  • Co-Chair of the Bar Association of San Francisco Equality Committee
  • Member, Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom
  • Member, Western Pension and Benefits Council
  • Member, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans

Robert concentrates his practice in fiduciary responsibility as well as tax-qualified retirement plan design, compliance, and administration. He routinely works with plan sponsors and fiduciaries to 401(k), defined benefit, cash balance, and profit sharing plans.

Robert has wide-ranging experience in plan drafting, including plan documents, amendments, resolutions, and summary plan descriptions. He also assists plan sponsors in preparing committee charters and bylaws to establish strong plan governance.

Robert routinely works with clients to assist with compliance efforts, including all aspects of the Internal Revenue Service Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System. He has significant experience helping clients navigate through the voluntary compliance program and plan audits.

In addition to plan design and compliance, Robert works with plan sponsors and service providers to understand and adhere to ERISA’s fiduciary requirements, including guiding clients through the Department of Labor’s Voluntary Fiduciary Compliance Program. He applies these same skills to service provider reviews, investment contract drafting and Department of Labor Investigations.

Robert also assists plan sponsors with day-to-day administrative efforts, including benefit claims and appeals, QDRO determinations, and participant communications. He remains up-to-date on all aspects of qualified plan reporting and disclosure in order to assist plan sponsors in timely compliance with regulatory requirements.

Robert has spoken on an array of benefits issues, including the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System, retirement benefits for domestic partners, missing participants, controlled group considerations, plan governance, and the fiduciary responsibilities of retirement plan committees.

Robert has been recognized as a 2016–2019 Rising Star, and as a Super Lawyer by the Northern California Super Lawyers publication since 2020. He was also awarded “Outstanding Volunteer” for his work from 2016 through 2018 with the Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) by the Bar Association of San Francisco

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RECENT AND UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS

RECENT PRESENTATIONS