Employee benefits law is an increasingly complex area of law that is governed by myriad statutes, regulations, administrative procedures, and pronouncements. Not only are benefit plans subject to federal tax laws, but many are also governed by the Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), a body of law that protects the rights of participants in their employer-provided benefits. These laws change on a frequent basis and are embellished by hundreds of ever-evolving, underlying regulations and administrative agency interpretations.
The Employee Benefits Group at Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons LLP is uniquely qualified to assist with the design and administration of employee benefits plans and executive compensation programs. The firm has built a national reputation in handling ERISA matters and represents a variety of employers--large and small--throughout the nation. We have experience working with most types of organizations, from small emerging businesses to large publicly traded multinational corporations.
Our firm handles employee benefits matters with an interdisciplinary group of experienced attorneys who practice in ERISA and employee benefits law, taxation, insurance, securities, banking and trust, employment law, bankruptcy law, and litigation. Our goal is to help employers preserve and maximize the tax benefits allowed for their benefits plans while complying with the many legal requirements of ERISA.
Our attorneys can assist employers with legal representation in the following areas:
- Retirement benefits planning, including 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and cash balance plans
- Welfare benefit planning, including severance plans, cafeteria plans, and health care involving issues related to COBRA, HIPAA, and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Leveraged acquisitions through the use of employee stock ownership plans
- Selection, drafting, and administration of specialized compensation and benefits programs for managerial and executive positions, including stock options, deferred compensation, trusts, and supplemental retirement arrangements
- Termination of existing plans, including issues related to mergers and asset reversions
- Plan evaluations to assess the impacts of mergers, acquisitions, and financing transactions
- Plan administration, including the disposition of benefits claims and ensuring compliance with the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA
- Filings and negotiations with governmental agencies to ensure administrative compliance procedures
- Representation of employers in litigation in a variety of benefits-related issues, including ERISA preemption, trust fund contribution collection actions, withdrawal liability claims, benefit entitlement disputes, breaches of fiduciary duty, and damage actions involving misconduct or negligence
- ERISA Litigation
ARTICLES AND ALERTS
IRS Guidance Published: Reimbursement for Employers for Advancing COBRA Premiums (03/16/2009 )
Big Changes for Health Care Continuation Coverage (03/01/2009 )
New 401(k) Plan Deferral Rules (09/01/2007 )
COBRA FAQs (06/01/2005 )
BENEFITS ALERT: Automatic Rollover of Mandatory Distributions Issued February 25, 2005 (02/01/2005 )
BENEFITS ALERT: Jobs Creation Act Casts Wide Net (11/24/2004 )
COBRA and Domestic Partner Group Health Plan Coverage (03/01/2004 )
EVENTS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Legislative Forum on Healthcare and Retirement, September 17, 2010 (09/17/2010 )
RJ&L Colorado Springs - Lunch with Lawyers: Emerging Health Insurance Issues for Small Businesses - September 10, 2010 (09/10/2010 )
RJ&L Colorado Springs - Lunch with Lawyers: Emerging Health Insurance Issues for Small Businesses - August 24, 2010 (08/24/2010 )
Employee Benefits & Compliance Seminar, February 18, 2010 (02/18/2010 )
Seminar: 401(k) Plans - Hit a Home Run and Cover All Your Bases - August 7, 2009 (08/07/2009 )
Employee Benefits Compliance Seminar, February 18, 2009 (02/18/2009 )
NEWS
ALERT: IRS Guidance Published: Reimbursement for Employers for Advancing COBRA Premiums (03/16/2009)