In an environment of ever-increasing competitive and financial pressures, as well as constant legislative and regulatory change, the design and administration of employee benefit plans have become a critical but complex part of doing business. Employers must design competitive benefits packages that work for their employees and meet the financial bottom line. Once programs are in place, employers must continue to monitor and redesign those programs to keep pace with changes in government mandates, legal requirements, and their own ever-changing financial and competitive needs.
The employee benefits practice group of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP brings to the table in-depth experience, as well as a broad range of resources, in the employee benefits arena. From the most simple and straightforward 401(k) plan to complex multi-formula defined benefit pension plans, our group’s extensive experience and capabilities are on-call for our clients. We have assisted in the design, implementation and ongoing administration of all types of benefit programs, including:
In connection with mergers and acquisitions, we assist both public and private businesses with due diligence reviews, issue identification, negotiation of representations, covenants and indemnifications, post-transaction contract and regulatory compliance, as well as plan implementation in the employee benefits and executive compensation aspects of transactions. In addition, our lawyers have worked with clients in addressing the employee benefit aspects of employment, severance and other executive agreements ranging from the simplest contract to the most complex senior-level executive arrangements. We also have broad experience in dealing with governmental agencies such as the IRS, DOL and PBGC. In fact, some of our lawyers were previously employed at these agencies, giving us both firsthand knowledge of the regulators and the ability to provide our clients with important practical insights in dealing with them. While proactive measures are highly effective in managing risk, conflicts will inevitably arise. As such, we also readily and aggressively support our clients in their ERISA litigation challenges.
Extensive Capabilities
Our employee benefits lawyers have worked with clients in the design, implementation and operation of numerous benefits programs in the following areas:
Wide-Ranging Experience
Our extensive knowledge and experience with a wide variety of issues has enabled us to stay on the cutting edge of employee benefits and executive compensation law. Hunton Andrews Kurth employee benefits lawyers frequently participate as speakers at seminars sponsored by Bar and other professional associations for lawyers, accountants and consultants. Our lawyers also often appear as panelists in conferences for business and financial leaders. They have long been active on Bar Association committees, especially in the American Bar Association’s Tax and Business Law Sections. Two of our lawyers have served as chair of the Employee Benefits Committee of the ABA’s Tax Section.
In addition to the broad experience of our lawyers, the diversity of our clientele bolsters our ability to provide creative solutions for any client’s needs. We represent clients across the spectrum of industries and businesses (ranging from Fortune 500 companies to a wide variety of tax exempt and governmental employers), with employees ranging from the hundreds to the tens of thousands. With this level of activity and diversity, all of our clients benefit from our capability to identify new issues and trends, and successfully address any potential legal hurdles.