Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
In today’s world, the people of an organization are its most important asset. In order to care for this critical resource, employers must provide a benefits and compensation package that is competitive in the marketplace, is aligned with the interests of the organization, and does not constitute a source of unnecessary risk or cost to the organization due to compliance issues.
Our benefits and executive compensation attorneys collaborate with clients of all sizes in a variety of different industries to design and develop benefit programs and incentive compensation arrangements that meet these key goals, while also navigating the complex regulatory and tax laws that impact these arrangements. Once programs are in place, we provide on-going counsel and support to ensure they are administered prudently and to address any compliance issues which may arise.
Our attorneys support organizations and other attorneys in situations where benefits and compensation issues are a priority and the skill, experience, and knowledge to handle those issues is a necessity. These circumstances include handling benefit issues that arise in corporate transactions, representing clients in ERISA litigation, supporting a client in an IRS or DOL audit relating to employee benefit plans, or advising public pension plans that are solely in the business of providing and administering retirement benefits for public employees.
Our attorneys also advise individual employees in connection with evaluating and negotiating compensation and incentive packages offered by their employer and mitigating any adverse tax consequences or risks.
Whatever the need or circumstance, our benefits and executive compensation attorneys strive to provide creative and cost-efficient solutions to best protect, manage, and retain our clients’ number one asset: their people.
Our employee benefits and executive compensation experience includes a variety of different compensation and benefit arrangements, as well as specialized areas practice. These areas of service include:
- Executive and Incentive Compensation
- Retirement Plans
- Public Pension Plans
- Health, Welfare and Fringe Benefit Plans/ACA Compliance
- Fiduciary Counsel and Governance
- ERISA Litigation
- Merger and Acquisition Support
- Section 409A Compliance and Deferred Compensation
- Plan Correction and IRS & DOL Audits
April 25, 2025
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates 21 Attorneys Named Among 2025 “Best Lawyers in Dallas”
Jackson Walker congratulates the 21 attorneys recognized among D Magazine’s list of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” for 2025. For recognition in the list, Dallas attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer unmatched counsel in one of 40 categories.
April 7, 2025
Insights
2025 Regulatory Review: Implications for Retirement Plans and Employer Actions
By Greta E. Cowart
The first few months of 2025 brought the potential for many changes. On January 20, 2025, one of the Executive Orders pulled back all proposed regulations that had been issued in the last 60 days, including proposed regulations on retirement plan changes in the law known as SECURE 2.0.
February 7, 2025
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Announces Election of 12 Attorneys to Partnership
Jackson Walker is proud to announce the election of 12 outstanding attorneys to the firm’s partnership.
January 29, 2025
Insights
New Statute of Limitation Will Help Limit ACA Liabilities in M&A Deals, But Buyers Should Remain Diligent
By Steven W. Day
To the satisfaction of companies routinely engaged in mergers and acquisitions, U.S. Congress recently amended the tax code through the Employer Reporting Improvement Act to add a six-year statute of limitations on the “employer shared responsibility payments” under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for an employer’s failure to offer health insurance providing minimum essential coverage and/or health insurance that is affordable.
January 24, 2025
Insights
Texas District Court’s Decision in 401(k) Case Has Wide-Ranging Implications for Plan Fiduciaries
By Steven W. Day and Brian Wilson
On January 10, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued an opinion in Spence v. American Airlines, Inc. (N.D. Tex. Jan. 10, 2025), holding that the fiduciaries of two American Airlines 401(k) plans breached their duty of loyalty.
December 23, 2024
Insights
Reported Telehealth Extension for Medicare Benefits Only
By Greta E. Cowart
Employers should carefully read the telehealth extension in the American Relief Act of 2025, signed by President Biden on Saturday. While the Act continues to fund the government through March 14, 2025, the telehealth extension specifically pertains to changes in the laws governing Medicare, extending the use of telehealth services through March 31, 2025.
December 16, 2024
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Announces Addition of Steven Day to Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice
Jackson Walker is proud to announce that Steven W. Day has joined our Dallas office as a partner in the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice group.
November 7, 2024
Spotlight
Jackson Walker Earns 26 National and 140 Metropolitan Rankings in 2025 Edition of “Best Law Firms”
Jackson Walker proudly announces its inclusion in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms® by Best Lawyers. This year, Jackson Walker observed notable improvements in the national rankings, including the rise of Real Estate to Tier 1, Commercial Litigation, Energy Law, and Trusts and Estates to Tier 2, and the addition of Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) in Tier 3.
