Compensation & Benefits

We recognize that attracting and retaining a high caliber work force presents one of the greatest challenges for businesses in today's competitive environment. The design and operation of appropriate compensation and benefits practices are critical to the success of each business and we work with employers as well as outside administrators, investment managers and venture capital investors to ensure full consideration of the complex issues involved in the compensation and benefits needs of each business.

Our lawyers work with clients to address the full array of issues arising in connection with the establishment, administration and, when necessary, termination of all types of employee benefit plans and arrangements. We assist our clients with all aspects of their tax-qualified retirement plans (profit sharing plans, 401(k) plans, tax sheltered annuity ("403(b)") plans, money purchase pension plans, defined benefits and cash balance plans), non-qualified deferred compensation plans, incentive compensation plans, 457 plans, SERP swaps, equity and equity-based programs (stock option plans, restricted stock programs, employee stock purchase ("423") plans and phantom equity arrangements), health and welfare plans and other fringe benefit programs.

Working in concert with our lawyers in the corporate and tax practices, we provide advice and counsel on the full range of compensation and benefits issues arising in connection with business mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, loan and financing transactions, joint ventures and venture capital investments. We also have extensive experience in addressing a wide variety of issues relating to the use of insurance products, including split-dollar life insurance, the evaluation of the tax treatment of new product offerings and analysis of both Federal and state law issues relating to the implementation of bank, corporate and trust-owned life insurance.