Benefits Plan Design & Administration
Our benefits attorneys design and draft the full range of pension, welfare and fringe benefit plans. We also prepare related employee communications, assist with all necessary Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor filings and help ensure compliance with all applicable laws.
We work with employers to design and implement qualified retirement plans (profit sharing, money purchase pension defined benefit, 401(k) and ESOPs)), advise on retirement plans for tax-exempt organizations (including 403(b) and 457 arrangements), implement nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements (including the use of rabbi trusts and secular trusts, golden parachutes, top hat and excess benefit plans) and structure welfare and fringe benefit plans (medical, severance pay, life insurance, disability, dependent care and education assistance).
Our lawyers frequently represent employers in IRS and DOL audits, and have extensive practical experience in helping employers utilize available correction programs issued by both agencies to correct retirement plan problems.
View Benefits Regulatory Compliance Checklist (PDF)
News
- June 12, 2013
Health Insurance Reform: Prep Your Staff for the Changes
Entrepreneur - June 4, 2013
Sullivan & Worcester Ranked in the 2013 Edition of The Legal 500 United States
S&W Press Release
Events
- July 8, 2013 (Boston) and July 9, 2013 (New York)
Retirement Plan Corrections - June 6, 2013
4th Annual Client Conference - May 21, 2013 (8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)
Employee Benefits Reporting and Disclosure Requirements: Form 5500 . . . And Beyond! - March 8, 2013
Retirement Roundtable (Plan Sponsors) - October 10-12, 2012
ESOP Participant Statements: Your Account Trail Guide - June 20, 2012 (8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.)
Annual Seminar for HR and Benefits Professionals - April 24-27, 2012
Administrative Mistakes & How to Fix Them - March 21, 2012 (8:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.)
DOL & IRS Correction Programs - March 16, 2012 (8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
Drinking from the ESOP Fountain - January 24, 2012 (12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.)
Sleep Better at Night: Using IRS and DOL Correction Programs for Retirement Plans - October 20-21, 2011
"MAINELY ESOPS" - Annual Fall Conference - September 22, 2011 (1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.)
Plan Correction Programs - June 30, 2011 (12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.)
Cross-Border Employment Law Matters: Employee Non-Competition Arrangements, Disability Issues and Open Forum - June 21, 2011 (8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.)
Annual Seminar for Benefits Professionals - May 26, 2011 (8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)
ERISA Reporting and Disclosure Requirements: Form 5500 . . . and Beyond! - March 4, 2011
Selecting an ESOP Valuation Firm - October 21-22, 2010
ESOPs: Get a Clue
Publications
- May 1, 2012
Retirement Plan Fee Disclosure: A Practical Approach
Client Advisory - February 8, 2012
Focus on Retirement Plans
Benefits Brief - January 13, 2012
What Massachusetts Employers Need to Know Going Into 2012
Client Advisory - December 28, 2011
Benefits Developments for 2012
Client Advisory - October 27, 2011
IRS Announces Key 2012 Indexed Limits
Benefits Brief - October 5, 2011
Reminder of New, Earlier Deadline for Medicare Part D Notice
Benefits Brief - October 3, 2011
IRS Announces New Employee Classification Settlement Program
Client Advisory - January 19, 2011
Month-End Benefits Reminders and 2011 Changes
Client Advisory - December 27, 2010
2010 Employment Law Wrap-up
Client Advisory - October 20, 2010
Critical End of Year Issues Arising from Federal Health Care Reform
Benefits Brief - August 12, 2010
HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules Update
Benefits Brief - May 6, 2010
Yet Another COBRA Subsidy Extension Requires Immediate Employer Action
Benefits Brief - March 25, 2010
Latest COBRA Subsidy Extension Requires Immediate Employer Action
Benefits Brief - January 22, 2010
New COBRA Subsidy Extension Requires Prompt Employer Action
Benefits Brief - January 20, 2010
Month-End Benefits Reminders
Benefits Brief - December 21, 2009
New Tax Return Requirement for Certain Group Health Plan Mandates
Benefits Brief - November 24, 2009
2009 Required Minimum Distributions - Transition Relief Ends November 30, 2009
Benefits Brief - November 9, 2009
IRS Announces Key 2010 Indexed Limits
Benefits Brief - June 12, 2009
Code Section 457A Requires Immediate Attention by Certain Sponsors of Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Arrangements
Client Advisory - April 17, 2009
COBRA Subsidy and Other Benefits Developments
Client Advisory - March 27, 2009
Model COBRA Notices Under ARRA
Client Advisory - February 26, 2009
Stimulus Package Contains Complicated COBRA Subsidy Provisions
Client Advisory - updated as of April 2012
A Question-and-Answer Guide to Code Section 409A
Client Advisory