Getting to Know: Elizabeth Latchana

Elizabeth H. Latchana is a shareholder at Fraser Trebilcock, specializing in employee health and welfare benefits.

Her expertise includes Affordable Care Act, ERISA, COBRA, Cafeteria Plans, Wrap Plans, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs), and other federal law compliance involving health and welfare benefit plans.

Latchana currently serves as chair of Fraser Trebilcock's Employee Benefits Welfare / Health Department and previously served as secretary, treasurer, and vice president of the firm's board of directors.

She has receivied an AV Preeminent peer review rating by Martindale-Hubbell, continues to be recognized by Leading Lawyers and Best Lawyers, has been selected as one of the Top 30 "Women in the Law" in 2018 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, and has twice been recognized as the Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law "Lawyer of the Year"
in Lansing by Best Lawyers in America, in 2015 and 2019.

The Davison resident enjoys being actively involved and volunteering in her community, serving on local boards, traveling with her family, and lending a helping hand with her three children's extracurricular activities.

By Jo Mathis
Legal News   

What is your proudest moment as a lawyer? Any time a client tells me they don't know what they'd do without me.

Who inspired you to enter the field? My father.

What would surprise people about your job? That I do not go to court.

When you were considering law school, what was Plan B? Psychology.

Favorite local hangouts? ”With three incredibly active children, I can typically found on the soccer or baseball fields, basketball or volleyball courts, swim decks or ski slopes ...

Favorite website? Facebook. I love being able to keep in touch with family and friends when the craziness of life prevents me from seeing them in person.

What was always written on your grade school report card? I was a very studious yet quiet child. I assume it was something similar to “Beth is a great student but needs to participate more in class...”

What is your happiest childhood memory? Swinging on our willow tree and jumping in a pile of fall leaves ... life was so carefree then.
When you feel overwhelmed, what do you do? Run.

What do you wish someone would invent? A cure for Alzheimer's and cancer. For more immediate and selfish reasons, human teleportation.

Favorite stamp on your passport? Ireland (although I love all of my stamps).

When you look back into the past, what do you miss most? My mom.

If you could have witnessed any event in history, what would it be? Being in the Johnson Space Center control room in Houston when Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon. The exuberance and elation of the incredibly successful mission would have been exhilarating to witness.

What were you doing in your last selfie? Flying in a small plane with my husband and great friends after celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary in the Grenadines.

Can you think of a failure that ultimately became a positive? Yes, multiple ones. Anytime I can take a step back, analyze where I went wrong, and learn how to adjust for a better result, is a positive outcome.

What’s something you changed your mind about recently? That taking time for myself is not selfish.

What is one thing you would like to learn to do? Sail.

What is the best advice you ever received? Stop and smell the roses.

What purchase of $50 or less has most positively affected your life? Coffee mugs with inspirational sayings - they help me refocus and get on the right track in the morning.