Biography
Alyca Riley Garrison is an associate in Jackson Walker’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice. Alyca represents public and private sector clients in all areas of employee benefits and executive compensation. Alyca also represents and advises municipal and statewide public pension plans in the state of Texas on a variety of issues arising under federal and state law, including plan administration, statutory interpretation, fiduciary compliance, governance, tax qualification, and plan investments.
As part of the ERISA practice group, Alyca regularly assists clients with design, compliance, and tax issues related to all types of retirement plans, deferred compensation plans, stock option and equity compensation plans, incentive bonus plans, severance and employment agreements, and transaction bonus or change-in-control plans. Alyca also assists clients with corrective filings under the voluntary correction program sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service. Alyca regularly works with Jackson Walker’s Corporate & Securities practice to address employee benefit and executive compensation issues that arise in mergers and acquisitions, including reviewing the employee benefits provisions of transactional documents, advising on Section 409A and 280G issues, and drafting and implementing incentive or equity compensation plans.
Prior to joining Jackson Walker, Alyca worked as a Tax Manager at one of the Big 4 Accounting firms serving domestic and international clients in various industries including insurance, highway construction, technology, and food service. Alyca’s experience and background as a certified public accountant allow her to effectively assist clients in navigating many complex employee benefit and compensation provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, including both Section 409A and Section 280G.
Education
B.B.A. Accounting, magna cum laude, Baylor University
- Master of Taxation (MTax), Baylor University
J.D., magna cum laude, Baylor University School of Law
- Technical Editor, Baylor Law Review
Certified Public Accountant, Texas, 2009
Bar Admissions
Texas
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Woodward/White Inc.), Labor and Employment Law – Management, 2024
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2022-2023
- Guest, “Texas Open Meetings Act in the Era of Social Distancing,” Jackson Walker Fast Takes Podcast (April 2020)
- Panelist, “Preparing Your 401(k) Plan for Inspection,” Southwest Benefits Association (SWBA) 2019 Webinar Series, (June 2019)
- Author, “IRS Provides for Expedited Loans and Hardship Distributions from Retirement Plans,” Jackson Walker Insights (September 2017)
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants
- National Association of Public Pension Attorneys
- Texas Association of Public Pension Attorneys, Vice President, 2017-2018
- American Bar Association – Tax Section

August 17, 2023
Attorney News‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.

April 24, 2023
NewslettersJW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – April 2023
View Jackson Walker’s April 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.

March 23, 2023
Attorney NewsJackson Walker Congratulates Its 2023 Texas Rising Stars
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the selection of 63 attorneys to Thomson Reuters’ 2023 “Super Lawyers – Rising Stars” list, which recognizes only 5% of Texas attorneys who either are 40 years of age or younger or have been in practice for 10 years or less.

January 27, 2023
Speaking EngagementsJessica Palvino and Alyca Riley Garrison to Speak at Tax Law in a Day Conference
Jackson Walker senior counsel Jessica B. Palvino and associate Alyca Riley Garrison are scheduled to present during the Tax Law in a Day Conference, providing insights on Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. Sponsored by the Tax Section of the State Bar of Texas, the conference will be held online on February 2-3, 2023.

November 17, 2022
NewslettersJW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – November 2022
View Jackson Walker’s November 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.


September 27, 2022
Client ResultsJackson Walker Represents Novaria Group in Completing Six Acquisitions in Seven Months
Novaria Group, a leading manufacturer of specialty hardware, components, and coatings for the aerospace and defense industries, recently completed its acquisition of STROCO Manufacturing, Inc. This deal marks the sixth acquisition Novaria has announced from December of 2021 through July of 2022, taking place after its successful acquisitions of FMi Chemical, Hohman Plating, Advanced Coating, Hydro Fitting, and GK Mechanical Systems.


August 29, 2022
Client ResultsJackson Walker Advises Montana Instruments Corporation in Acquisition by Atlas Copco
Atlas Copco, a Swedish industrial tools and equipment manufacturer, has announced the acquisition of client Montana Instruments Corporation for an undisclosed purchase price. The acquisition is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2022.



April 21, 2022
NewslettersJW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – April 2022
View Jackson Walker’s April 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.


March 22, 2022
Attorney NewsJackson Walker Congratulates Its 2022 Texas Rising Stars
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the selection of 51 attorneys to Thomson Reuters’ 2022 “Super Lawyers – Rising Stars” list, which recognizes only 2.5% of Texas attorneys who either are 40 years of age or younger or have been in practice for 10 years or less.


November 23, 2021
Client ResultsJackson Walker Represents Prophet Equity in Acquisition of RJV Equipment, LLC
Jackson Walker represented Prophet Equity in the acquisition of Tennessee-based RJV Equipment, LLC, a provider of new and used equipment sales, rental parts, and maintenance services to the utility infrastructure and commercial construction markets. The transaction closed on November 1, 2021, for an undisclosed amount.