Employee Benefits

The firm's employee benefits practice group focuses on the tax and non-tax considerations of all forms of employee compensation and benefits. Working closely with the employment, corporate, tax, and estate planning practice groups, benefit plans are designed to enhance workforce morale and appreciation, and where appropriate, provide targeted benefits for key employees and business owners. Group members regularly advise clients concerning life insurance, health, and medical benefits, including HIPAA and COBRA compliance, and deferred and executive compensation.

Central to the group's services is advising clients on all aspects of qualified retirement plans. Attorneys regularly assist in the design, installation, preparation, qualification, and termination of such plans. Specialized projects may include: advising upon voluntary compliance and corrections; handling Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, or Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation audits; obtaining prohibited transaction exemptions or rulings; and handling complex benefits issues in merger and acquisitions. In most instances, attorneys work closely with their clients'accountants, actuaries, insurance counselors, and third party administrators to make the administration and operation of the plans efficient and seamless.

Group members pride themselves on a commitment to introducing clients to new benefit programs, while at the same time providing clients with frank evaluations of "cutting edge planning opportunities."They possess a broad range of experience and are respected members of the employee benefits community. Included among the employee benefits group are certified public accountants, former Internal Revenue Service employee plans agents, and the holders of masters of taxation degrees. Others have participated as members of advisory groups for the Internal Revenue Service and hold leadership positions with the Employee Benefits Committee of the Oakland County Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan.

The types of employee benefit plans the firm represents include:

• Cafeteria plans
• Dependent care
• Flexible spending account
• Deferred compensation
• Non-qualified
• Phantom stock
• Disability
• Insured
• Long-term
• Short-term
• Healthcare
• Dental expenses
• Health insurance
• Long-term care insurance
• Medical expense reimbursement
• Prescription
• VEBAs
• Life insurance
• Group-term insurance
• Split-dollar
• Qualified retirement
• Cash balance
• Defined benefit
• Employee stock ownership (ESOP)
• 401(k)
• 403(b)
• Money purchase pension
• Profit sharing
• Special compensation arrangements
• Golden parachutes
• Incentive pay
• Severance pay
• Stock options
• Incentive stock
• Non-qualified
• Qualified