DLA Piper LLP (US)

Employment; Corporate; Tax; Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation; Mergers and Acquisitions; Insurance and Reinsurance Disputes; Insurance; Healthcare

Partner

Ian Kopelman, with extensive experience in ERISA, is responsible for all matters involving retirement and other fringe benefit programs for clients ranging in size from major publicly held corporations and public benefit plans to sole proprietorships and partnerships.

Ian's experience includes designing and drafting both qualified and non-qualified retirement and deferred compensation plans, including leveraged employee stock ownership plans, and he regularly counsels clients on plan implementation, administration, operation and communication. He also works extensively in the area of employee welfare benefit plans, including health and healthcare cost containment programs, life insurance, disability and flexible benefit (Section 125) plans. Ian has primary responsibility for benefit plan aspects of corporate acquisitions, mergers and divestitures, terminating plans, and researching and giving opinions on ERISA issues, including those relating to plan qualification, reporting and disclosure, fiduciary responsibilities, and the Multiemployer Pension Plan Amendments Act of 1980. Ian also drafts master individual retirement account programs and employee pension benefit plans for banks, insurance companies and brokerage houses, and regularly counsels clients in this area.

WEB, Inc.; Chicago Association of Commerce and Industry's Employee Benefits Committee; Business Advisory Board, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois; John Marshall College of Law Advisory Committee to LLM (in employee benefits law for lawyers) and MS Programs (in employee benefits law for non-lawyers)

J.D., University of Iowa; B.A., Knox College