Working as trusted advisors with senior executives, in-house counsel, benefits and compensation professionals, and other service providers, our lawyers assist U.S.-based clients on all aspects of executive compensation, including tax and securities compliance and compensation-related corporate governance and disclosure matters. When our clients need assistance in non-U.S. jurisdictions, we collaborate with experienced and knowledgeable partner firms around the world. 

Our team helps clients in a variety of matters, such as:   

• Equity and nonequity compensatory plan documents, employee communications, executive employment, severance and change-in-control agreements, proxy statements (including equity plan proposals), 8-K disclosures of executive compensation arrangements, and S-8 registration statements. 
• Tax, securities, and ERISA compliance in a wide variety of areas, such as restricted stock unit, stock option, and other equity granting practices; Section 16 reporting and liability issues; 11-K filings; insider trading issues; Section 409A deferred compensation taxation; crypto-based programs; ERISA top hat filings and related compliance issues; and executive claims administration. 
• Board and administrative committee meetings. 
• Nonqualified deferred compensation plans, broad-based equity plans, and employee stock purchase plans. 
• Due diligence of executive and equity compensation issues in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other major business transactions. 
• Executive and equity compensation-related securities litigation. 
• Claims proceedings, obtaining tax and ERISA rulings, governmental audits and regulatory agency investigations, and compliance problems under voluntary governmental programs. 

Our lawyers provide full-service employee benefits representation addressing all aspects of plan design strategy, plan drafting, and plan operations for a wide range of benefit plans, policies, agreements, and arrangements. We support employee benefits clients in such areas as mergers and acquisitions; claims and litigation; government investigations and audits; and federal, state, and local compliance guidance relating to the Internal Revenue Code; ERISA; HIPAA; the Affordable Care Act; and other federal, state, and local laws. 

We assist clients with the following matters: 

• Defined contribution plans, such as 401(k) profit sharing plans, and defined benefit pension plans. 
• Union-based (multiemployer) retirement plans. 
• Nonqualified deferred compensation plans and executive benefit arrangements. 
• Tax issues, including Code Section 409A, 457, and 280G matters. 
• Health and welfare programs, including self-funded group health benefits, retiree medical benefits, consumer-driven benefits (like high-deductible health plans), health savings accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, and healthcare flexible spending accounts offered through a Code Section 125 Cafeteria Plan. 
• HIPAA privacy, security, and breach notification rules. 
• State family and medical leave laws, including the Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave Program and the California Paid Family Leave laws 
• State and local laws related to sick leave. 
• Employment agreements and severance plans and policies (both individualized and broad-based). 
• Pretax commuter benefit plans, employee assistance and wellness programs, education assistance programs, and adoption assistance programs. 
• Benefit claims and appeals to government agencies. 
• Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation audits and investigations.