An insurance policy is intended to provide financial support when illness, disability, or loss disrupts a person’s life. Yet when a claim is denied, that certainty can quickly give way to a complicated legal dispute governed by unfamiliar procedures, strict deadlines, and technical standards of proof. For more than four decades,
Mark DeBofsky has worked within that divide, representing individuals seeking disability, life, accidental-death, health, retirement, and other benefits they maintain were wrongfully denied or terminated. His career rests on a clear principle: when policyholders and employees have fulfilled their obligations, the promises made to them should withstand scrutiny when they are needed most.
A Career Defined by Complex Claims
Since his admission to the Illinois bar in 1980, DeBofsky has developed a practice defined by technical depth and sustained specialization. His early work in civil and appellate litigation provided the foundation for a career increasingly concentrated on ERISA and insurance benefits law. In 1989, he was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.
ERISA disputes require more than general litigation experience. The strength of a claim can depend on how evidence is developed during the administrative process, whether deadlines are met, and how policy provisions and federal standards are applied. For claimants encountering the system after a denial, the consequences of an early procedural error can be significant.
DeBofsky brings together the perspectives of a litigator, legal scholar, former law professor, and policy contributor. That combination enables him to examine both why an individual claim was denied and the legal and institutional structures behind the decision.
When Individual Cases Influence Broader Legal Standards
DeBofsky has represented claimants before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Circuits. This extensive appellate work has placed him at the center of consequential disputes involving the standards courts use to examine benefit denials.
Among DeBofsky’s notable appellate matters is Prather v. Sun Life Financial Insurance Co., in which the Seventh Circuit resolved an accidental-death dispute in favor of the claimant and ordered the payment of benefits. In Raybourne v. Cigna Life Insurance Co. of New York, the court examined the assessment of medical and vocational evidence in a disability claim. Stephan v. Unum Life Insurance Co. of America brought questions of insurer conflicts and access to claim-related materials before the Ninth Circuit.
Other matters connected to his practice include Krueger v. Reliance Standard and Scanlon v. Life Insurance Company of North America. Together, these cases demonstrate the level at which DeBofsky operates, handling matters that involve complex legal arguments before federal appellate courts while also representing individuals pursuing insurance and employee benefits.
DeBofsky Law: A Practice Built Around Experience
Through DeBofsky Law, DeBofsky has built a firm concentrated on employee-benefit and insurance disputes. Its work covers short- and long-term disability claims, group and individual disability policies, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment benefits, health coverage, long-term care, and retirement or pension benefits.
The firm assists clients at multiple stages, from evaluating a potential claim and preparing an administrative appeal to litigating in federal district and appellate courts. Although based in Chicago and Seattle, it represents clients across the United States and has handled certain matters involving individuals abroad.
In a field where employee-benefits and insurance disputes are often part of broader legal practices, DeBofsky Law has developed its identity through sustained concentration. Matters are attorney-led, with fee arrangements determined according to the circumstances of each case. The firm applies technical precision while remaining mindful of the practical impact these disputes can have on a client’s health, livelihood, family security, and future.
Addressing Mental Health Benefit Disparities
DeBofsky’s work also extends into the policy questions surrounding mental-health and substance-use disability claims. In 2023, he was appointed to the U.S. Department of Labor’s ERISA Advisory Council and joined the drafting team examining disparities in long-term disability coverage.
The Council’s report considered the widespread use of provisions limiting benefits for disabilities arising from mental-health and substance-use conditions, often to 24 months, while other qualifying disabilities may remain covered for longer periods.
DeBofsky’s participation did not give him sole authority over policy reform, but it placed his experience within an important national examination of whether disability plans treat mental and physical conditions equitably. His reported involvement in an Illinois mental-health parity task force further reflects his ongoing interest in addressing disparities beyond individual litigation.
Contributing Beyond Litigation
From 2000 to 2022, DeBofsky served as an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, bringing decades of practical experience in ERISA and insurance litigation into legal education.
His contributions to professional scholarship include writing for Law360 and the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin through 2025. He has also contributed to the American Bar Association’s ERISA Survey of Federal Circuits and joined the editorial board of Bender’s Labor & Employment Bulletin.
DeBofsky has extended these discussions through public appearances, including the Income Protection Journal Podcast, where he addressed disability-policy language and risks affecting specialized professionals, and the podcast An Inside Look at ERISA Litigation. He has also commented on ERISA’s evolution and participated in interviews examining the denial of mental-health disability claims.
A Record of Recognition and Wider Contribution
DeBofsky’s professional record has been recognized across several respected legal rankings. He was selected to Illinois Super Lawyers from 2005 through 2026 and included in its Top 100 from 2009 through 2026.
He also earned Top 10 recognition in 2017 and 2025 and was included in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. These recognitions reflect the consistency, technical depth, and appellate experience that have defined his practice.
His broader contribution reaches beyond professional rankings. Through pro bono representation, teaching, legal writing, and participation in public-policy discussions, DeBofsky has applied his specialist knowledge to both individual advocacy and the continuing development of employee-benefits law.
Helping Policyholders Navigate Benefit Disputes
For Mark DeBofsky, a denied claim is more than an administrative disagreement. It tests whether a policy will deliver the protection it promised. His career has been devoted to examining that question through litigation, scholarship, policy work, and a practice focused on helping policyholders pursue the benefits they believe they are entitled to receive.
Disclaimer: The content in this article is provided for general knowledge. It does not constitute legal advice, and readers should seek advice from qualified legal professionals regarding particular cases or situations.
