Tax-Qualified Retirement Plans

Employers are working hard to ensure that retirement plans promote work force satisfaction through participant flexibility and control while maintaining the ability to administer benefits plans efficiently. We represent a host of public and private companies in connection with their retirement plans, from evaluation and development to implementation, administration and modification. We also advise non-profit organizations such as hospitals and universities on retirement and deferred compensation issues consistent with their special status and governance.

Our experience with tax-qualified retirement plans spans all possible forms, including traditional pension, profit-sharing, 401(k), savings, target benefit, money purchase, cash balance, stock bonus, and employee stock ownership plans. We offer years of experience with such plans, and so are well equipped to address the latest issues concerning them. For example, we have recently designed and implemented protections in a number of clients' programs to limit their potential exposure to "Enron-type" claims under their 401(k) or other plans.

We can meet clients' needs quickly thanks to our detailed knowledge of retirement plans. This is enhanced by our established working relationships with the key government agencies whose regulations impact retirement plans. Our frequent appearances before and informal discussions with agencies such as the Department of Labor, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Internal Revenue Service and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation often provide unique insight into likely governmental reactions, as well as an understanding of how to mesh our clients' business objectives with the agencies' regulatory framework.