With offices in California, New York, Illinois, Georgia, Massachusetts, and New York, Seyfarth Shaw LLP’s employee benefits and executive compensation team is well placed to advise on a diverse range of state and national employment legislations in industries with unique specialized employment legal requirements, such as healthcare and construction. Diane Dygert chairs the department from the Chicago office, and is well regarded for 'communicating complex issues in a clear and practical way'. In the same office, Jennifer Kraft is a strong choice for clients in the healthcare, life sciences, and pharmaceutical industries, while Benjamin Conley has strong experience in counseling clients regarding the Affordable Care Act. Also in Chicago, Jon Karelitz assists clients in implementing and administering pension and 401(k) plans. In the Seattle office, Liz Deckman drafts and implements health and welfare plans, in addition to all types of tax-qualified retirement plans and trusts. In Los Angeles, Mitchel Whitehead is particularly knowledgeable in acting for financial services clients.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Diane Dygert  and Jon Karelitz are extremely gifted in communicating complex issues in a clear and practical way.’

  • ‘Jon Karelitz and Diane Dygert are ERISA experts and deliver advice in a clear, client-focused and practical manner. They are great to work with.’

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Work highlights

  • Assisted the North American division of a global manufacturing company in the selection of an annuity provider to issue an annuity contract to satisfy certain benefit payment obligations under client’s defined benefit plans for selected retirees.
  • Assisted client in developing a new long-term incentive plan for its executive and other high-ranking employees across several different business lines, and provided guidance on the employee benefit provisions of the SECURE Act 2.0.
  • Serving as sole employee benefits counsel to an insurance provider on issues relating to welfare plan design; compliance with Section 125 regulations; navigating wellness concerns; and addressing fiduciary considerations relating to use of affiliated vendors and providers.

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Practice head

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Diane Dygert,