Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Tax, Employee Benefits and Private Client

Partner - Corporate and Finance Transactions

Lisa Van Fleet is a recognized and accomplished employee benefits and executive compensation lawyer with over 30 years’ tenure with the firm. As a highly experienced practitioner, Lisa counsels clients, including public and private entities, tax-exempts and governmental organizations, on all aspects of retirement plans, welfare and fringe benefit plans and deferred and equity based compensation. She partners with clients throughout the entire lifespan of these plans, from design through termination, to obtain favorable tax treatment, facilitate compliance with complex tax and ERISA regulatory matters, obtain favorable rulings and exemptions from national offices, successfully resolve IRS and DOL audits and controversy, and implement strong governance practices to minimize fiduciary and litigation exposure.

Lisa also serves as benefits counsel on corporate transactions, conducting diligence, negotiating transaction terms and implementing strategies for integration of employee benefit plans. In addition, she works closely with the financial products group counselling clients on complex ERISA regulatory compliance matters, including the plan asset rules, fiduciary duties, prohibited transactions and fund document review.

Partnering with clients representing a broad spectrum of industries, including health care, education, professional services, finance, manufacturing, retail and transportation, Lisa designs and implements benefit programs that are instrumental in achieving core business objectives.

Lisa is a Fellow with the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, a frequent speaker, writer and educator on employee benefit and tax-related topics, and holds leadership positions with the American Bar Association and TE/GE Council (“Tax Exempt and Government Entity Council”). She served for many years as an adjunct professor of law at Saint Louis University School of Law teaching employee benefits courses and is recognized in Best Lawyers as being among the top employee benefit lawyers nationally.

Areas of Concentration:

Qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, executive compensation, deferred compensation, equity based compensation, welfare benefit plans, compensation and benefit plans for tax-exempt organizations, multiemployer plans, plan asset vehicles, fiduciary duties, prohibited transactions, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA and employee benefits in corporate transactions.

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT & HONORS The Best Lawyers in America, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation (2023-2024) Super Lawyers in Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition Who’s Who of American Women Who’s Who of American Lawyers AV Preeminent Woman Lawyer PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS American Bar Association Fellow of the American College of Benefits Counsel Vice Chair, Deferred Compensation Section of REPTE Previously served as Deputy Chair, Fiduciary Section of REPTE American Law Institute CLE Advisory Committee TEGE: Tax Exempt & Government Entities (a national coalition between Benefits practitioners and government regulatory agencies) President, National Association of TEGE Chair, Gulf Coast TEGE Missouri Bar Association Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis - Secretary of the Employee Benefits Section Board of Directors JDRF Greater Missouri and Southern Illinois Board of Directors Voices for Children