ERISA, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Counsel
At Goldburd McCone LLP, we understand that navigating employee benefits, retirement plans, and executive compensation requires not only deep legal knowledge but also practical tax insight. Our team advises businesses, executives, and individuals on the full spectrum of ERISA compliance, QDROs, retirement planning, and employee benefit strategies.
With decades of combined experience, including in-house counsel at Fortune 500 companies and international law firms, our ERISA practice helps clients avoid costly mistakes while structuring benefits to maximize value and minimize risk.
Our ERISA & Employee Benefits Services
We counsel clients across the full employee benefits and compensation landscape, including:
Retirement Plans – Advising on the design, administration, and correction of 401(k), pension, profit-sharing, and nonqualified deferred compensation plans.
Health, Life and Disability Plans – Counseling on the design, drafting, implementation, and administration of medical, life, and disability plans, including on compliance with ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, HIPAA, and COBRA, and other applicable federal or state laws.
Other Employee Benefits Programs – Assisting with the creation and operation of employee assistance programs, wellness programs, cafeteria plans, health savings accounts (HSAs) and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), flexible spending accounts (FSAs), fringe benefits (such as adoption/tuition assistance, surrogacy reimbursement, commuter benefits), severance plans, and other compensation and benefit arrangements.
Executive & Key Employee Compensation – Negotiating and structuring equity, incentive, and severance packages that align with corporate goals and tax strategies.
Compliance & Corrections – Guiding clients through IRS and Department of Labor correction programs to fix qualification or fiduciary issues before they escalate.
Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs) – Ensuring retirement assets are accurately divided during divorce or separation while maintaining compliance with ERISA and IRS rules and satisfying the individual requirements of plan administrators.
IRAs and Tax Planning – advising on various issues associated with retirement planning. Including but not limited to matters involving IRAs and Roth IRAs.
Self-Directed IRAs & Alternative Investments – Structuring compliant self-directed retirement accounts, reviewing investment options, and addressing prohibited transaction risks.
Corporate Transactions – Identifying and resolving benefits issues in mergers, acquisitions, and reorganizations, including benefits mapping and post-merger integration.
Why Work With Goldburd McCone LLP?
- Tax-Savvy Approach – As a leading tax law firm, we integrate ERISA compliance with federal, state, and international tax planning.
- Proactive Risk Management – We focus on preventing compliance pitfalls before they become expensive disputes or penalties.
- Tailored Solutions – Every client’s benefit structure is unique, and we craft strategies that align with your financial goals and legal obligations.
- Decades of Experience – Our Senior Counsel, Avi Bernstein, brings more than 25 years of ERISA and benefits law experience, including positions at AmLaw 100, and Big 4 consulting firms, and as in-house counsel at a Fortune 100 company.
Who We Serve
- Businesses – Employers seeking to design, manage, or restructure benefit and retirement plans.
- Executives & Key Employees – Individuals negotiating compensation, severance, or retirement packages.
- Divorcing Individuals – Spouses who need clear, enforceable QDROs to divide retirement assets accurately and satisfy the requirements of plan administrators.
- Investors – Individuals using IRAs or Roth IRAs for various retirement and financial planning reasons.
- Self-Directed IRA owners – Individuals looking to diversify IRA investments into real-estate, private equity, or alternative assets.
Contact Us
Whether you are a business navigating ERISA compliance, an executive negotiating a compensation package, or an individual managing retirement assets, Goldburd McCone LLP provides the expertise you need.
