Alisha Sullivan

Alisha N. Sullivan

Associate

Alisha N. Sullivan

Associate

  • Overview

    Biography

    Alisha Sullivan is a member of the firm's Employee Benefits + Compensation Group, counseling employers, insurance carriers, and service providers on a wide range of complex employee benefits and executive compensation matters.

    Retirement Plan Design and Administration

    Ms. Sullivan's practice addresses a broad array of issues relating to the design, drafting, and operation of qualified and nonqualified defined benefit and defined contribution plans, including 401(k), profit-sharing, multiemployer, employee stock ownership and Section 403(b) and 457(b) plans of tax-exempt organizations. She assists with consultation and negotiation with the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation with regard to plan terminations, audits of plans, qualification submissions, plan corrections and other matters.

    Governmental Plans

    Ms. Sullivan frequently works with state and municipal governmental clients sponsoring and administering benefit plans and programs. She advises these clients on qualified retirement plans and 457(b) plans, from generally applicable requirements to unique rules addressing vesting requirements for governmental plans, pick-up of employee contributions, compliance with Section 415 of the Code, purchase of service and 415(m) excess plans. Additionally, she advises clients on state statutes relating to the implementation and governance of public plans, as well as the interpretation of specific enabling statutes creating various governmental entities. She also assists municipalities and related entities with respect to Length of Service Award Programs (LOSAP), and their creation, design, and administration.

    Health and Welfare Benefit Plans

    Ms. Sullivan counsels clients on a wide range of health and welfare benefits matters, including issues related to the Affordable Care Act, self-funded health arrangements, wellness and disease management programs, HIPAA privacy and security rules, COBRA administration, cafeteria plans, and various state laws and regulations governing health and welfare plan design and administration.

    Executive Compensation and Equity Arrangements

    Ms. Sullivan assists with the design, implementation, and maintenance of executive and outside-director compensation and incentive programs, including equity-based plans.

    Fiduciary Advice

    Ms. Sullivan counsels boards of directors, trustees, investment committees, plan administrators, and plan fiduciaries regarding their duties and responsibilities under federal law. She counsels plan sponsors on all aspects of ERISA fiduciary compliance, including plan governance and plan administration issues.

    Pro Bono

    Ms. Sullivan provides pro bono services to Connecticut non-profit organizations through the Pro Bono Partnership on a wide range of employee benefit and compensation issues.

    The author of numerous articles on employee benefit matters, Ms. Sullivan also is a contributor to the firm's ERISA Claim Defense Blog, a platform that offers commentary and insight on administration, evaluation, and litigation of group benefits claims as well as other compliance and litigation issues involving ERISA, and the Data Privacy + Security Insider Blog.

    Prior to joining Robinson+Cole, Ms. Sullivan worked in the law department of a Fortune 500 financial institution, focusing on the area of employee benefits and compensation.

  • Experience
    • Experience

      Experience

      • Routinely drafts plan documents and amendments for health and welfare, qualified and non-qualified benefit plans.

      • Conducts legal research and analysis of a variety of ERISA issues, the Affordable Care Act and related provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

      • Advised Fortune 500 insurance company’s internal Claims Committee, which was tasked with reviewing ERISA claim appeals.

      • Routinely provide guidance on HIPAA compliance issues and review Business Associate Agreements.

      • Drafted a consolidated plan document, which combined a sponsor's multiple retirement plans.

    • Professional Associations

      Professional Associations

      Connecticut Bar Association
      Chair, Tax Law Committee, Young Lawyers Section Executive Committee (2018 - 2019)
      Co-chair, Women in the Law Committee, Young Lawyers Section Executive Committee (2017 - 2018)

      American Bar Association

      Massachusetts Bar Association
    • Honors + Awards

      Honors + Awards

      Connecticut Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Star of the Year Award, 2017-2018 bar year

  • NEWS + PRESS
    • Publications

      Publications

      "Disaster Relief in the Workplace," published in Labor and Employment Newsletter, co-authored with Virginia E. McGarrity (Fall 2017)
      • » more info

        • Disaster Relief in the Workplace

        "Disaster Relief in the Workplace," published in Labor and Employment Newsletter, co-authored by Alisha N. Sullivan and Virginia E. McGarrity (Fall 2017)

        In this American Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Newsletter article, Ms. McGarrity and Ms. Sullivan cover the benefits and resources available to employees by human resource management to assist those who have been affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

      • View article

      "Proposed Expansion of the PBGC's Missing Participant Program," co-authored with Virginia E. McGarrity, published in the Fall 2017 edition of the Public Fiduciary
      • » more info

        • Proposed Expansion of the PBGC's Missing Participant Program

        "Proposed Expansion of the PBGC's Missing Participant Program," co-authored by Alisha N. Sullivan and Virginia E. McGarrity, published in the Fall 2017 edition of the Public Fiduciary

        Published in the official newsletter for Fiduciary Investment Advisors (FIA), an independent, employee-owned investment consulting firm that works with fiduciary clients including retirement plan sponsors, institutions, non-profit organizations, and private clients


      "Trump admin. allows employers to opt out of ACA's contraception mandate," published in Hartford Business Journal, co-authored with Virginia E. McGarrity (11/6/2017)

    • Presentations

      Presentations

      "Struggles Women in Law Face and How Men Can Be Allies," at the Quinnipiac University School of Law in Hamden, Connecticut (11/15/2017)
      • » more info

        • Struggles Women in Law Face and How Men Can Be Allies

        "Struggles Women in Law Face and How Men Can Be Allies," presented by Alisha N. Sullivan, at the Quinnipiac University School of Law in Hamden, Connecticut (11/15/2017)

        The program discussed the challenges women face with negotiation, equal pay, and sexism and how men can be allies.


    • News

      R+C in the News

      • June 6, 2018

        Amanda Schreiber and Alisha Sullivan Appointed to Connecticut Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Leadership Roles

        • » more info

          Amanda Schreiber and Alisha Sullivan Appointed to Connecticut Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Leadership Roles

          The Connecticut Bar Association Young Lawyers Section (CBA-YLS) has appointed Business Litigation Group lawyer Amanda Gordon Schreiber and Employee Benefits + Compensation Group lawyer Alisha N. Sullivan to leadership roles. Ms. Schreiber has been elected to serve as the CBA-YLS Chair-elect and will eventually, pending annual election results, be elevated to lead the CBA-YLS as Chair in 2019. Ms. Sullivan has been named the chair of the CBA-YLS Tax Committee. In addition, she was presented with a CBA-YLS Star of the Year Award in recognition of her previous role as co-chair of the section’s Women in the Law Committee. Read more in the press release.

        • View article
      • January 10, 2018

        Virginia McGarrity and Alisha Sullivan Co-author Article Published in ABA Labor and Employment Law Newsletter

        • » more info

          Virginia McGarrity and Alisha Sullivan Co-author Article Published in ABA Labor and Employment Law Newsletter

          Employee Benefits + Compensation Group lawyers Virginia E. McGarrity and Alisha N. Sullivan co-authored the article "Disaster Relief in the Workplace," published in the Fall 2017 edition of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Labor and Employment Law Newsletter. In the article, Ms. McGarrity and Ms. Sullivan cover the benefits and resources available to employees by human resource management to assist those who have been affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Click here to read the article

      • December 22, 2017

        Virginia McGarrity and Alisha Sullivan Co-author Article Published in the Public Fiduciary

        • » more info

          Virginia McGarrity and Alisha Sullivan Co-author Article Published in the Public Fiduciary

          Employee Benefits + Compensation Group lawyers Virginia E. McGarrity and Alisha N. Sullivan co-authored the article "Proposed Expansion of the PBGC's Missing Participant Program," published in the Fall 2017 edition of the Public Fiduciary, the official newsletter for Fiduciary Investment Advisors (FIA). FIA is an independent, employee-owned investment consulting firm that works with fiduciary clients including retirement plan sponsors, institutions, non-profit organizations, and private clients.

      • November 28, 2017

        Alisha Sullivan Presents on Women in the Law Program at Quinnipiac University

        • » more info

          Alisha Sullivan Presents on Women in the Law Program at Quinnipiac University

          Employee Benefits + Compensation Group lawyer Alisha N. Sullivan was among the panelists in the discussion "Struggles Women in Law Face and How Men Can Be Allies," at the Quinnipiac University School of Law in Hamden, Connecticut, on November 15, 2017. The program discussed the challenges women face with negotiation, equal pay, and sexism and how men can be allies.

      • November 15, 2017

        Virginia McGarrity and Alisha Sullivan Co-author Article Published in the Hartford Business Journal

        • » more info

          Virginia McGarrity and Alisha Sullivan Co-author Article Published in the Hartford Business Journal

          Employee Benefits + Compensation Group lawyers Virginia E. McGarrity and Alisha N. Sullivan co-authored the article "Trump admin. allows employers to opt out of ACA's contraception mandate," published in the November 6, 2017 issue of the Hartford Business Journal. The article offers a pointed update about the expansion of the contraceptive exemption offered to public and private companies citing a religious or moral conviction against providing contraceptive coverage to its employees. Click here to view the entire article.

      • May 30, 2017

        Alisha Sullivan Appointed to CBA’s Young Lawyers Section Roles

        • » more info

          Alisha Sullivan Appointed to CBA’s Young Lawyers Section Roles

          Employee Benefits and Compensation Group lawyer Alisha N. Sullivan has been appointed to the Connecticut Bar Association (CBA) Young Lawyers Section’s (YLS) Executive Committee, and she has been named the co-chair for the YLS Women in the Law Committee. Both appointments are for the 2017-18 bar year. The goals of the YLS are to promote justice, encourage public service, and promote diversity and education of young lawyers and newly admitted practitioners. These goals are achieved through educational, public service, and community programs, servicing both junior and senior members of the CBA. The Section, made up of over 2,000 members, also serves a valuable social and network role in introducing young lawyers and assisting them in their transition to the Connecticut legal practice. The Women in the Law Committee plays a key role in planning two of the most well-attended CBA events: The Annual Women’s Professional Golf Event, and in conjunction with the CBA Women in the Law Section, the annual Pathways to Leadership for Women Lawyers dinner where the YLS honors the Ladder Award recipient.

      R+C News Releases

      • June 13, 2017

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Appointed to Connecticut Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Leadership Roles