International law firm McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to announce Erin Turley has rejoined the Firm as a partner in the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice Group. Erin focuses her practice exclusively on employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Erin has been practicing in this area for more than 25 years and spent seven years as a partner at McDermott before joining a privately held ESOP-owned company as its chief executive officer. In this role, Erin gained critical in-house perspective on the legal and practical implications of ESOP ownership. Her background includes advising on the design, implementation, and administration of tax-qualified and nonqualified retirement plans; health and welfare benefit plans; and regulatory compliance with the Internal Revenue Code, ERISA, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Erin’s arrival follows the recent addition of associate Myriem Bennani based in Chicago. Myriem is an experienced benefits lawyer who focuses her practice on representing employers and plan sponsors in sophisticated matters related to qualified and nonqualified employee benefit plans with a particular focus on ESOPs.

“Erin’s deep understanding of employee benefits law and her practical experience with ESOPs will be invaluable to our clients seeking to provide better compensation and ownership options to their employees,” said Andrew Liazos, global head of McDermott’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group. “Together with Myriem, these additions underscore our commitment to deepen our already strong ESOP offerings.”

“I am excited to expand our ESOP capabilities with the depth of talent offered by Erin and Myriem and look forward to leveraging the additional capacity to continue to grow our practice,” added Allison Wilkerson, a partner in McDermott’s ESOP practice.

Erin has successfully represented clients before the Internal Revenue Service and the US Department of Labor in audit and correction matters, concluding several large case audits for both publicly traded and privately held plan sponsors. She has also advised employers on benefits issues related to corporate mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures.

“I look forward to leveraging my previous experience to help our clients navigate the complexities of employee benefits law and achieve their business goals,” said Erin. “I am thrilled my career has led me back to McDermott to work alongside such a talented team of professionals.”

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