Our Employee Benefits + Compensation practice group provides comprehensive employee benefits services to a wide range of clients, including public and private companies, tax-exempt organizations, educational institutions, municipalities and government entities, trust companies, and financial institutions.

Our clients turn to us for our proficiency in providing benefits solutions that align with business needs, while complying with the myriad laws governing employee benefit plans. Our practical approach serves our clients well in an environment where benefit costs are on the rise, while the resources to provide those benefits are shrinking.

Our Services

We have extensive experience in designing, drafting, and amending pension and welfare benefit plans, as well as executive compensation arrangements. We advise and support our clients on a wide range of employee benefit programs, including:

• Employer plans covering unionized employees, including multiemployer plans
• Employee stock ownership plans
• Executive compensation arrangements, including equity and nonequity compensation and Sections 409A and 457(f) compliance issues
• Fringe benefit programs
• Health and welfare benefit plans, including compliance with HIPAA and health care reform
• Section 403(b) and Section 457(b) plans of tax-exempt organizations and governmental entities
• Tax-qualified defined benefit plans, including cash balance plans
• Tax-qualified defined contribution plans, including 401(k) plans

We advise our clients on the day-to-day issues relating to the administration of benefit plans, such as resolving benefit claim disputes and negotiating third-party service providers. We also identify and correct compliance issues, effectively utilizing correction programs established by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) and represent plan sponsors and fiduciaries in investigations and audits by government regulatory agencies, including the IRS, the DOL, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, and state agencies.

Our Team

Our Employee Benefits + Compensation practice group provides seamlessly integrated legal services by collaborating with colleagues throughout the firm. Working closely with the Business Transactions team, we assist our clients on unique projects involving corporate restructurings and acquisitions. We provide support before, during, and after significant corporate transactions—from the evaluation of benefit plans during the due diligence phase, to the design and integration of post-closing benefits. We also work with the Labor and Employment team advising on employment issues such as employee benefits administration and leaves of absence, structuring employment and separation agreements, and retention packages. In conjunction with the Managed Care and Employee Benefit Litigation team, we advise on litigation risks, fiduciary duties, and best practices.