Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP supports both public and private companies with the employee benefits and executive compensation facets of transactions, focusing on due diligence, negotiating representations, and ensuring post-transaction contractual and regulatory compliance. Anthony Eppert, co-leading the practice from Austin, focuses on executive compensation, employee benefits, and ESOPs, addressing associated tax, securities, and corporate governance concerns. In Washington DC, fellow practice head Jessica Agostinho offers expertise in tax-qualified retirement plans, ERISA compliance, and the due diligence of employee benefit plan documentation. Counsel Michelle Lewis, also based in DC, focuses on health and welfare plans, qualified retirement plans, and executive deferred compensation plans. Former co-head Scott Austin retired in October 2023.

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Key clients

  • Alkami Technology, Inc.
  • Commercial Metals Company
  • Darden Restaurants, Inc.
  • Divcon EMS Austin, LLC
  • DTE Energy Company
  • ESW Parent, Inc.
  • Finance of America Companies Inc.
  • MV Transportation, Inc.
  • Neiman Marcus Group
  • NuStar Energy
  • Oncor Electric Delivery Company
  • Smithfield Foods, Inc.
  • Spirit of Texas Bancshares, Inc.
  • Sunlight Financial LLC
  • Texas Children's Hospital
  • Texas Instruments
  • Utica Mutual Insurance Company
  • Valero Energy Company
  • Vistra Corp

Work highlights

  • Advised the Saratoga Foods Specialty division of Smithfield Foods, Inc. in its $587.5 million sale to Solina Group Holding.
  • Advised on the sale of Finance of America Companies' title insurance subsidiaries, Boston National Title and Agent’s National Title, to a subsidiary of Essent Group Ltd.
  • Advised Darden Restaurants, Inc. in the acquisition of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc., valued at $715 million.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Anthony Eppert, Jessica Agostinho

Other key lawyers

Michelle Lewis, Tyler Richardson, Jordan Latham