Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation

Partner

Jon Karelitz is a partner in the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Department of Seyfarth Shaw LLP, and co-chair of the firm’s Executive Compensation Practice. Jon helps clients implement and administer pension and 401(k) plans. He has worked on cutting-edge pension de-risking projects, including one of the largest pension buyouts in U.S. history. He also advises clients on the effects of reductions-in-force, spin-offs and other corporate events on existing retirement plans. Jon routinely assists clients with the correction of plan operational errors, and has represented clients in numerous IRS and DOL audits.

In addition, Jon advises investment committees and plan fiduciaries on the legal implications of all types of managed investments and financial instruments. He also helps plan administrators respond to participant claims and appeals, and uses project management tools and technology to efficiently manage high-volume claim loads.

Jon represents both employers and executive teams in the negotiation of employment and severance agreements.  He also helps employers establish and administer all forms of equity compensation arrangements and nonqualified deferred compensation plans. This work includes advising clients on the complex rules under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and tax implications of performance-based compensation. In addition, he advises public companies on all aspects of executive compensation disclosure under SEC and stock exchange rules.

LLM, The John Marshall Law School Employee Benefits With honors JD, Indiana University Maurer School of Law CALI Award in Employee Benefits Law BA, Northwestern University