Our Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation attorneys focuses on the tax and non-tax considerations of all forms of employee compensation and benefits. Working closely with the employment, corporate, tax, and estate planning practice groups, our employee benefits lawyers design plans to enhance workforce morale and appreciation, and provide targeted benefits for key employees and business owners. Group members advise clients concerning retirement plans, health and welfare plans, ERISA, HIPAA and COBRA compliance, and deferred and executive compensation.
A key service of the group is advising clients on all aspects of qualified retirement plans and health and welfare plans. Attorneys regularly assist in the design, installation, preparation, qualification, and termination of these plans. Specialized projects include: advising on voluntary compliance and corrections; handling Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, or Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation audits; obtaining prohibited transaction exemptions or rulings; and handling complex benefits issues in merger and acquisitions. Attorneys typically work closely with clients’ accountants, actuaries, insurance counselors, and third-party administrators to make the administration and operation of the plans efficient and seamless.
Group members pride themselves on introducing clients to new benefit programs while providing clients with frank evaluations of “cutting-edge planning opportunities.” They possess a broad range of experience and are respected members of the employee benefits community. Group members have participated as members of advisory groups for the IRS, have held leadership positions with the Employee Benefits Committee of the Oakland County Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan, and are annually selected for inclusion in Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, and Super Lawyers.
The types of employee benefit plans our law firm represents include:
- Cafeteria plans
- Dependent care
- Flexible spending accounts
- Deferred compensation
- Phantom stock
- Disability
- Insured
- Long-term
- Short-term
- Health care
- Dental expenses
- Health insurance
- Long-term care insurance
- Medical expense reimbursement
- Prescription
- Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association plans (VEBA)
- Life insurance
- Group-term insurance
- Split-dollar
- Qualified retirement
- Cash balance
- Defined benefit
- Employee stock ownership (ESOP)
- 401(k)
- 403(b)
- Money purchase pension
- Profit sharing
- Special compensation arrangements
- Golden parachutes
- Incentive pay
- Severance pay
- Stock options
- Incentive stock
- Non-qualified
- Qualified
