Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has one of the most well-respected employee benefits and executive compensation practices at a full-service law firm. The practice is headed by Craig Bitman in New York. Bitman is proficient in advising clients on complying with fiduciary duties and on compliance surrounding compensation plans, health and welfare benefit plans, and equity compensations. Amy Pocino Kelly, the deputy practice leader, is based in Philadelphia - she is proficient in representing plan sponsors in audit and correction matters before the IRS, DOL, and Pensions Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Rosina Barker is experienced in executive compensation, especially regarding the Internal Revenue Code and Section 409A compliance. Jonathan Zimmerman is adept in matters surrounding ERISA compliance and the Internal Revenue Code. A key contact for plan sponsors, Althea Day counsels both multiemployer funds and contributing employers on matters surrounding multiemployer plans. Barker, Zimmerman, and Day are all based in Washington DC. In Pittsburgh, Elizabeth Goldberg handles DOL ERISA investigations and conducts internal audits to minimize potential liabilities. Also in Pittsburg, Michael Gorman is particularly proficient in advising clients concerning tax-qualified retirement plans and welfare benefit plans.

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Work highlights

Advising Kroger with respect to issues related to the merger of several Taft-Hartley health and welfare funds into larger such funds, which provides for increased economies of scale and improved ability to deliver valuable health and welfare benefits to Kroger’s unionized employees.
Representing Honeywell in all employee benefits matters, including matters related to defined benefit pension plans, qualified defined contribution plans, health and welfare plans, payroll and fringe benefit taxation, and pension investment matters.
Providing ongoing support to a large energy company for a variety of projects relating to its tax-qualified retirement plans and welfare benefit plans, including plan restatements, plan corrections under the IRS’s voluntary correction program, and plan governance and fiduciary matters, as well as assisting with Voluntary Employee Benefit Association matters.