Leads McDermott’s AdTech and Data Monetization group, combining practical business advice with deep technical experience

Advises on cutting edge issues spanning AI, digital health, connected vehicles, fintech, biometrics, advertising, and other complex topics

Draws on Chief Privacy Officer secondment to design and operationalize global privacy programs, including a library of easy-to-implement materials

Ted Becker is co-head of McDermott Will & Schulte’s ERISA Litigation practice and a Fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel.  He focuses his practice on litigation under ERISA and related federal and state actions, and defense of government investigations and audits relating to employee benefit, health and welfare, and retirement plans brought by the US Department of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service, and the US Department of Justice. He is a leading voice and nationally recognized practitioner in this complex practice area.

He has represented public and private companies that sponsor employee benefit, health and welfare, and retirement plans governed by ERISA, and their directors and officers and plan fiduciaries, as well as service providers to ERISA plans and plan sponsors. He has extensive experience in Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and has defended some of the highest profile lawsuits involving ESOPs, helping to define the landscape of the evolving law relating to ESOPs.

Ted has a considerable experience in trial and appeals courts, including arguing before the United States Supreme Court and several United States Circuit Courts of Appeals. He also has represented clients in arbitration proceedings. He has represented clients across the full spectrum of litigation, from avoidance, dispute resolution and pre-litigation planning, through dispositive motions, discovery, trial and appeal.

Ted’s clients include a number of Fortune 500 companies. He represents both public and private organizations, as well as non-profit organizations.

Allison Wilkerson focuses her practice on employee benefits matters. She has extensive experience handling issues pertaining to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs).

With respect to ERISA, Allison focuses on compliance issues and the Internal Revenue Code related to employee benefits, including qualified plans, nonqualified plans, and executive and deferred compensation. While advising employers on the design, implementation and administration of tax-qualified retirement plans and nonqualified retirement plans, Allison provides relevant guidance as to administrative and operational matters, and assists clients with various benefit plan correction programs offered by the Department of Labor (DOL) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Allison also has advised employers with respect to issues raised in connection with corporate mergers, acquisitions and divestitures as they relate to the various benefit plans maintained by the affected corporate entity or entities.

Allison focuses her ESOP practice on the design and implementation of ESOP transactions and provides ongoing legal counsel to ESOP-owned companies. She has been involved in hundreds of transactions, including leveraged buyouts, mergers, acquisitions, and the structuring and financing of ESOPs using private equity. She has advised employers on the implementation of nonqualified plans and executive compensation arrangements that complement the employee ownership structure and culture inherent in an ESOP-owned company. Allison also represents independent fiduciaries in their role as purchaser in an ESOP transaction as to their legal duties with respect to their representation of ESOP participants and beneficiaries.

Allison writes and speaks frequently on ERISA and ESOP issues.

John T. Lutz advises clients on the tax aspects of investment funds, structured finance, derivatives and structured products. He also counsels clients on matters related to insurance products, investment tax credits, conventional US and cross-border securities offerings, and corporate mergers and acquisitions. John represents a number of tax-exempt organizations in connection with their investment activities and incentive compensation arrangements.

John handles all aspects of tax-advantaged financings and investments for financial institutions, investment fund managers, high net worth individuals, and investors. He represents banks and investment managers in connection with asset backed securities including collateralized loan obligations, structured notes, and repackagings.

John is a recognized leader in the tax aspects of municipal derivatives and tax-exempt bond securitizations. He provides tax advice to derivative products dealers in the domestic and cross-border contexts, advising on US and international tax issues related to insurance products, equity swaps, repurchase agreements, structured notes, and offshore structured finance vehicles.

Michael Hilkin represents clients in all aspects of complex state and local tax matters. He has a particular focus on tax controversy and transactional issues relating to state and local income, franchise, sales and use, gross receipts, and other business taxes. Michael has extensive experience handling state and local tax issues before US administrative and judicial systems, including arguing cases before state courts and state supreme courts. He also regularly advises clients on personal income tax issues, especially those concerning residency.

Michael frequently speaks on state and local tax issues before the Council on State Taxation, Tax Executives Institute, the New York University Institute on State Taxation, the Paul J. Hartman SALT Forum, and the Institute for Professionals in Taxation.

Bankruptcy and insolvency

Out-of-court workouts

Creditor committee and post-confirmation trust representation

Loan agent, Indenture Trustee and lender

Financial services litigation

Distressed transactions and recovery strategy