Michael A. Hepburn

T: 202-776-2859
F: 202-776-2222

Education

  • The George Washington University Law School, J.D., 1988
  • Western Maryland College, B.A., 1985

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia 1990
  • Maryland 1988
Michael Hepburn joined Dow Lohnes in 1993 and became a Member of the Compensation and Benefits practice group in 1998. Mr. Hepburn's practice includes counseling public and private companies, non-profit organizations and individuals regarding a broad range of compensation, employment and benefits issues. His practice includes counseling clients regarding the design, administration and termination of pension and welfare plans, including nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements and equity-based compensation programs as well as compensation and benefits issues arising in business transactions. Mr. Hepburn also has extensive experience in advising clients regarding various insurance funding arrangements including corporate and trust-owned life insurance as well as split-dollar life insurance programs.

Mr. Hepburn routinely advises and counsels clients on a wide variety of labor and employment law issues, including hiring practices, employee evaluations, disciplinary actions, leave policies and practices, employment termination, discrimination charges, personnel policy review, employment contracts, consulting agreements, noncompetition agreements, severance and release agreements, issues arising in collective bargaining and issues relating to mergers, acquisitions, business relocations and closings. He provides counseling and dispute resolution services on behalf of both employers and executives in various industries including individuals involved in the sports and entertainment industry. In addition, Mr. Hepburn advises clients regarding HIPAA related matters and various record management and retention issues relating to business operations.

Mr. Hepburn works with clients in the Sports & Entertainment practice on contract matters as well as related tax and benefit considerations. Mr. Hepburn works with athlete clients on personal matters and business ventures, including addressing issues relating to entity formation, business structure and related tax and liability issues.

Memberships and Activities

Member - District of Columbia Bar Employee Benefits Committee

News

July 20, 2012: Dow Lohnes Serves as Transaction and Regulatory Counsel in Cox Media Group Purchase of Four TV Stations

Publications

November 30, 2012: SEC Bulletin: ISS Releases Guidelines For The 2013 Proxy Season
Fall 2011: HR Bulletin
September 20, 2011: HR Bulletin: October 15th Is The Deadline For Providing Medicare Part D Creditable Coverage Notice
April 5, 2011: SEC Bulletin: SEC Proposes Rules for Compensation Committees and Compensation Advisers
January 25, 2011: SEC Bulletin: Final Rules Regarding Say-on-Pay and Golden Parachutes
November 23, 2010: SEC Bulletin - ISS Recommendations Regarding Certain Shareholder Advisory Votes on Compensation
October 22, 2010: SEC Bulletin: Proposed Rules Regarding Say-on-Pay and Golden Parachutes
May 5, 2010: HR Bulletin: HHS Regulations on Early Retiree Reinsurance Program
March 23, 2010: HR Bulletin: COBRA Subsidy Extended Through March
January 26, 2010: HR Bulletin: Notice Requirements for the Extended COBRA Subsidy
September 18, 2009: HR Bulletin: New York Law Increases Penalties For Wage And Hour Violations
April 7, 2009: HR Bulletin: Supreme Court Approves The Use Of Arbitration Clauses In Collective Bargaining Agreements
February 2009: HR Bulletin: New COBRA Election Period and Premium Subsidy Effective Immediately
February 2009: HR Bulletin: Highlights of FMLA Revised Regulations
February 2009: HR Bulletin: Senate Revamps COBRA Subsidy Proposal
January 2009: HR Bulletin: Suspension of Minimum Required Distributions for 2009
July 2008: HR Bulletin: Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 Signed Into Law
June 2008: HR Bulletin: New Jersey Becomes Third State To Enact "Paid Family Leave" Law
March 2008: HR Bulletin: Defined Contribution Plan Participants Can Recover Losses To Account Balance Caused By Fiduciary's Breach
February 2008: HR Bulletin: Congress Expands FMLA For Families Of Service Members
January/February 2008: "Application of Code Section 409A to Employment Relationships: Tax Law Meets Employment Law"
November 19, 2007: HR Alert: Final DOL Regulations On Qualified Default Investment Alternatives
November 2007: HR Bulletin: Final DOL Regulations On Qualified Default Investment Alternatives
October 26, 2007: HR Alert: Here We Go Again - Additional Code Section 409 A Relief Has Arrived
October 21, 2007: HR Alert: Changes to the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Creditable Coverage Standards and Notice Requirements
September 14, 2007: HR Alert: Limited Relief under Code Section 409A Is Issued by the Internal Revenue Service, but Some Decisions Still Must Be Made in 2007
August 30, 2007: HR Alert: Court Decision Affirms Employers' Ability to Coordinate Retiree Health Benefits with Medicare Benefits
February 16, 2007: HR Bulletin Action Alert: IRS Permits Employers To Pay IRC Section 409A Penalties for Discounted Stock Options and SARS Exercised During 2006; Action Required by February 28
October 1, 2006: HR Bulletin Action Alert: How Do You Spell Relief? Deadlines Under Code Section 409A Are Extended Again
August 7, 1998: "Severance Pay in Corporate Transactions"