The Benefits and ERISA Group at GCA Law Partners LLP offers counseling and representation on a wide range of benefits and ERISA matters. Our clients include start-ups, mature, multinational, privately and publicly-held corporations, tax-exempt organizations, and fiduciaries and investors of ERISA plan funds. We also work closely with corporate, employment and litigation attorneys to assist with benefits issues in corporate transactions and litigation matters. We provide each client with pragmatic solutions tailored to meet the client’s particular situation and needs, from cash-conserving retirement plans for early stage companies to sophisticated incentive, retirement and deferred compensation for mature companies, to providing fiduciary and ongoing operational counseling. GCA’s highly expert team of benefits and ERISA attorneys can take the exceedingly technical rules and deliver practical solution-oriented advice at a remarkably low cost.

GCA can assist you with a broad range of benefits and ERISA issues including:

Tax Qualified Retirement Benefits

  • Designing, implementing, and maintaining tax-qualified retirement plans including 401(k), profit sharing, 403(b), 457, and pension and employee stock ownership plans
  • Preparing plan documents amendments and SPDs
  • All facets of plan operation including correcting operational failures and prohibited transactions
  • Understanding and complying with fiduciary duties
  • Handling benefit claims appeals controversies and litigation support
  • Handling IRS and DOL audits
  • Preparing IRS determination letter applications disclosure documents and governmental filings (Forms 5500 & 5330)

Compensation and Severance Programs

  • Non-qualified deferred compensation plans
  • Bonus plans
  • Incentive compensation programs
  • Retention programs

Executive Compensation

  • Executive employment and separation agreements
  • Severance plans and golden parachute arrangements

Fiduciary Counseling and ERISA Compliance

  • Counseling plan committees, trustees and other plan fiduciaries on compliance with applicable ERISA standards and DOL guidance
  • Advising investment managers, hedge funds and plan investors on full range of ERISA issues in private and public offerings
  • Drafting investment policy statements, investor adviser agreements, and compliance checklists and policies
  • Counseling regarding claims handling practices
  • Drafting, negotiating, and reviewing group benefit plans

Corporate Transactions

  • Merger and acquisition transactions
  • Spin-offs
  • Joint ventures
  • ERISA and stock option litigation

Litigation

  • Representation of employers, plan administrators, claims administrators, insurers, and benefit plans against claims brought under ERISA
  • Defense of individual and class ERISA actions
  • Analysis and counsel on cases best suited for alternative dispute resolution at an early stage
  • Representation of clients in regulatory proceedings

When experience matters. When considering employee benefits, compensation and ERISA issues, GCA attorneys look at the whole picture, drawing on the talents of our benefits, employment, and corporate partners to arrive at the most effective and efficient result for the client’s needs.

GCA Benefits and ERISA Attorneys Group