Employee Benefits Attorney

Join a collaborative legal team advising employers and plan sponsors on employee benefits with a primary focus on retirement plans and ERISA. This role combines ongoing compliance counseling with transactional work including benefits diligence for mergers and acquisitions.

• Design draft and amend 401(k) pension profit-sharing and other qualified retirement plans.
• Advise plan sponsors and fiduciary committees on plan compliance nondiscrimination testing corrections and IRS or Department of Labor audits.
• Support clients with implementation of SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0 requirements and other regulatory developments.
• Conduct benefits diligence in M&A transactions identify plan liabilities draft related representations and warranties and advise on post-closing integration.
• Counsel clients on deferred compensation executive compensation equity and incentive plans and severance arrangements.
• Communicate directly with clients and collaborate with colleagues across corporate and capital markets practices.

• Four to ten years of substantive employee benefits and ERISA experience at a law firm with a strong focus on qualified retirement plans.
• Hands-on experience designing drafting amending or advising on 401(k) pension profit-sharing or other qualified plans.
• Plan-sponsor-side counseling experience including compliance fiduciary advice plan corrections audit response or M&A diligence.
• Knowledge of nondiscrimination testing EPCRS or VFCP corrections IRS and Department of Labor audits and SECURE Act changes.
• A JD from an accredited law school admission to the New York bar or eligibility and willingness to waive in and authorization to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.
• Strong written work product responsive communication and a collaborative approach. Executive compensation 409A health and welfare plan Tax LL.M. or CPA experience is a plus.

Annual salary range: $139000 to $192000. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Hybrid role based in Albany New York. Candidates in Rochester or Buffalo New York will also be considered.