Employee Benefits Attorney

Hirschler, a dynamic, multispecialty law firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is seeking an experienced Employee Benefits Attorney to join our Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation team. This position can be based in our Richmond, Tysons or Fredericksburg offices.

About the Role:

This attorney will advise private companies, tax-exempt organizations, fiduciaries, and business owners on a broad range of employee benefits, executive compensation, ERISA, and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) matters. Our team helps clients design and administer competitive compensation and benefits programs that attract, retain, and reward employees while complying with complex tax, labor, securities, and employee benefits laws. We routinely assist clients with the employee benefits and executive compensation aspects of mergers, acquisitions, ownership transitions, and other strategic transactions.

Responsibilities:

• Advise clients on the design, implementation, administration, and compliance of:

-Tax- qualified retirement plans, including 401(k), profit-sharing, defined benefit, 403(b), 457(b), and Employee Stock Ownership plans

-Health and other welfare benefit plans

-Internal Revenue Code Section 125 cafeteria plans

-Executive compensation arrangements

-Equity and equity-based compensation plans and agreements

• Assist with employee benefit and executive compensation matters arising in mergers, acquisitions, financings, restructurings, and other corporate transactions.
• Design and advise on nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements, including plans governed by Internal Revenue Code Section 409A.
• Counsel employers, fiduciaries, investment managers, and plan sponsors regarding ERISA fiduciary obligations, prohibited transaction rules, and retirement plan investment issues.
• Draft and negotiate executive employment and severance agreements.
• Advise clients on executive compensation, equity and equity-based compensation plans and other incentive arrangements.
• Represent clients in IRS and Department of Labor correction programs, audits, investigations, and other regulatory proceedings.
• Advise clients on plan administration, operational compliance, and related employee benefits issues.

Qualifications:

• Admission to practice in Virginia or eligibility for admission.
• 5 years of experience in employee benefits, executive compensation, ERISA, and related tax matters.
• Strong knowledge of:

-ERISA

-Qualified and nonqualified retirement plans

-Executive compensation and equity-based compensation

-Health and welfare plans

-Section 409A compliance

-Retirement plan fiduciary and compliance matters

• Experience handling employee benefits and executive compensation aspects of mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions.
• Excellent drafting, analytical, communication, and client counseling skills.

Ideal Candidates Will Also Have:

• Experience with ESOP design, administration, compliance, and transactional matters.
• Experience representing clients before the IRS, Department of Labor, and the PBGC.

Why Hirschler:

Working in collaboration with the firm's Business, Labor & Employment, Tax, and Investment Management teams, you'll work in a collegial environment to help clients navigate complex ERISA, tax, and other benefit plan regulatory requirements, provide support for M&A and other strategic transactions, assist with executive compensation planning, retirement plan governance, and ESOP ownership structures. You’ll have opportunities to meet and work directly with clients to deliver practical, business-focused solutions to meet their employee benefits objectives and compliance obligations.

Compensation is dependent on several factors, such as position, location, education, training, and/or experience.