Employee Benefits

The following is a description of the vast experience that we bring to our clients:

• Provide practical advice regarding violations of the Internal Revenue Code and appropriate methods to correct these violations under the IRS Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System.
• Handle IRS audits and negotiate closing agreements.
• Perform comprehensive compliance audits and reviews.
• Submit to, negotiate with, and obtain from the IRS numerous determination letters (where applicable) and private letter rulings.
• Provide advice in connection with mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, layoffs, and plant closings, including plan termination and withdrawal liability issues under ERISA Title IV and experience with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).
• Provide advice and coordinate with plan service providers regarding de-risking strategies for pension plans, including lump-sum payments and annuity purchases, consistent with settlor and fiduciary duties.
• Provide employee benefits counsel to U.S. domestic companies that are wholly owned by or in a controlled group that includes foreign entities.
• Consult with plan administrators on administration and plan interpretation issues.
• Monitor state and federal legislation and advise clients of the impact of such legislation on their benefit plans.
• Draft legislation to be incorporated into state statutes and local ordinances.
• Design and draft money purchase pension plans, including 414(h) pick-up plans, 403(b) tax-sheltered annuity plans, defined benefit pension plans, including 414(h) pick-up plans, Deferred Retirement Option Plans (DROP Plans), 457 and other deferred compensation plans.
• Have extensive experience with public sector plans, including experience with many city and county plans and statewide systems.
• Regularly advise Boards of Commissioners, Boards of Education, Retirement Boards, and Boards of Trustees.
• Regularly coordinate with city attorneys, county attorneys, and assistant attorneys general regarding public sector plan issues.
• Provide guidance on domestic relations orders, including preparation of numerous model domestic relations orders for complex retirement plans.
• Design and draft 125 cafeteria plans, self-funded medical plans, employee benefits wrap documents, severance plans, fringe benefit plans and other health and welfare plans.
• Design and draft retiree health savings plans (and integral part trusts), 401(h) accounts, and Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Associations.
• Provide advice regarding fiduciary liability, reporting and disclosure, distribution issues, and excise taxes.
• Provide advice regarding the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.
• Provide litigation defense on matters involving pension and welfare plans and fiduciary duty issues.
• Provide advice regarding Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, and numerous other federal and state laws affecting employee benefit plans.
• Provide assistance with vendor selection process and negotiation of vendor contracts.
• Negotiate legal documents pertaining to investments, such as securities lending agreements, limited liability partnerships, separate accounts, offshore trusts, etc.