McDermott Will & Schulte, a global law firm

Andrew C. Liazos is the global head of McDermott’s Benefits & Compensation Practice Group and has practiced at McDermott for over twenty-five years.

Andrew is a nationally recognized leader representing boards and senior executives on significant, multi-disciplinary compensation and benefits related matters, with an emphasis on plan design, practice before regulators, litigation and governance. Chambers USA reports that Andrew is a “first-rate lawyer” and an “excellent, top-notch leader in his field.” Best Lawyers reports from clients that “Andrew’s responsiveness to problems is unequaled,” he “provides the utmost customer service,” “working with him is a great experience,” and that he has “a practical approach to issues.”

Andrew has held several leadership positions within the American Bar Association for over two decades, including serving as the chair of the Section of Taxation’s Employee Benefits Committee. He is the current co-chair for the American Law Institute’s Annual Symposium on Executive Compensation and a fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, which recognizes lawyers who have made significant contributions to advance the employee benefits field for at least twenty years.

Andrew is a frequent speaker and the author of numerous articles on executive compensation and employee benefit issues for publications as Bloomberg Tax, Tax Notes, the Benefits Law Journal, CFO Magazine and Fortune. Andrew has also frequently submitted comments on behalf of trade associations and clients, including proposed tax regulations and securities law rules.

Set forth below is a representative list of Andrew’s practice.

Elizabeth C. Lu focuses her practice on US and international tax matters.  She advises clients on international tax issues, including the subpart F anti-deferral rules, foreign tax credit planning, repatriation, and the international provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (GILTI, FDII, BEAT, etc.).  Elizabeth has experience advising multinational corporations on global supply chain restructurings, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, post-acquisition integrations, internal reorganizations, tax controversies, and intellectual property migrations.  Elizabeth also advises clients on tax treaties, cost sharing agreements, and the taxation of the digital economy.

Elizabeth regularly speaks on international tax topics, including as part of the Tax in the City® Roundtable.

While in law school, Elizabeth served as a features editor for the Yale Law Journal.  Elizabeth also worked at the University of Chicago Law School as the chief research assistant to Judge Richard A. Posner and Professor William M. Landes.

Charles (Chuck) Moll focuses his practice on state and local tax (SALT), primarily concentrating on the resolution of tax controversies. He regularly appears before the various California tax authorities—including the State Board of Equalization, the California Franchise Tax Board, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, and the Office of Tax Appeals—as well as local authorities such as assessors and assessment appeals boards. He has litigated at all levels of California's courts, the US Tax Court, and the US Supreme Court.

Chuck’s practice includes tax matters in other states, as well as federal tax controversies, including representation of clients in federal courts and at appellate hearings before the Internal Revenue Service.

Brian H. Jenn focuses his practice on US and international tax matters for US and foreign multinationals and other clients. As former Deputy International Tax Counsel (DITC) for the US Department of Treasury, Brian has extensive experience and insight on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), having been deeply involved in the process of issuing proposed and final regulations and other guidance implementing the TCJA. Brian also has significant insights on taxation of the digital economy, transfer pricing and US taxation of foreign currencies.

Prior to joining McDermott, Brian spent several years at the US Department of Treasury where he was an attorney advisor, and most recently DITC. While at Treasury, he served as co-chair of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Task Force on Digital Economy and as US delegate to the Committee on Fiscal Affairs. In this capacity, Brian led Treasury’s engagement at the OECD on digital tax issues, playing a central role in discussing tax challenges associated with the digitalization of the economy, as well as the development of new international norms for allocating tax rights among countries.

Brian also advises clients with international operations on transfer pricing issues, such as supply chain structuring and intellectual property planning. As US delegate to the OECD’s Working Party 6 throughout the G20-OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project, Brian negotiated major changes to international transfer pricing standards, including changes to the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines chapters on intangibles, cost contributions arrangements, risk and recharacterization, and low-value added services.

In addition, Brian was one of the primary drafters of a recently issued detailed set of regulations governing US taxation of transactions involving foreign currencies.

Before joining the Treasury, Brian spent several years in private practice, where he advised clients in various sectors, including technology, pharmaceutical, financial services and consumer products. He handled aspects of international tax planning including foreign tax credits, foreign currency issues, Subpart F, intangible property transfers, transfer pricing and treaty interpretation.

Prior to law school, Brian served as a staff economist to the White House Council of Economic Advisors where he assisted the chairman and members of the council in advising the president on tax policy and other public finance issues. In addition, he served as senior economist to the Joint Economic Committee of Congress where he advised the chair regarding tax policy, including issues related to the economic implications of potential international tax reforms.

Caroline Ngo co-leads the firm’s International Tax Affinity Group. She represents publicly traded, and other large multinational corporate clients in US and international tax matters.

Caroline focuses her practice on planning, consulting, and advocacy work for US- and foreign-parented multinational companies across several industries. She also advices on matters related to acquisitions, dispositions, internal reorganizations, post-acquisition integration, inbounding transactions, intangible property holding companies, finance company structures, cash repatriation, and US income tax treaty qualification

Caroline is nationally recognized for her deep knowledge of her field and is a frequent speaker on international tax matters.

Andrea Tempestini heads the Italian Tax Practice. He advises clients on domestic and international tax issues relating to mergers and acquisitions transactions, corporate restructurings and the use of financial instruments, as well as other tax matters relating to their ordinary activities. He represents Italian and international companies from various industries on a broad spectrum of tax matters and often leads teams of tax advisors from various jurisdictions working on cross-border projects.

Andrea completed an internship with the Dutch and Luxembourg offices of a leading law firm. He has also lectured and conducted seminars and workshops on several tax matters at various institutions and at large corporations.

Dominika Korytek focuses her practice on international tax planning, with an emphasis on technology companies. She advises clients on tax strategies for international expansion, domestic and international acquisitions, reorganizations and dispositions.

Dominika also advises clients related to international tax planning in mergers and acquisitions, dual consolidated loss issues, permanent establishment risk analysis, withholding tax and indirect (VAT/GST) tax planning. She also works closely with policy teams to obtain tax rulings and exemptions outside of the US.

She is a frequent author and speaker on topics pertaining to international taxation.

Bradford E. LaBonte focuses his practice on US and international tax matters. He advises multinational corporations and investment funds on matters related to cross-border mergers and acquisitions, cash repatriation, controlled foreign corporation (CFC) and passive foreign investment company (PFIC) regimes, financial instrument classification, US trade or business determinations, US income tax treaty qualification and planning, and US withholding tax issues.

Bradford previously worked as a senior associate with a “Big Four” accounting firm. Prior to that, he gained experience in the Internal Revenue Service Office of Chief Counsel and in the California Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General. During law school, Bradford served as executive editor for the Berkeley Journal of Employment and Labor Law.

David G. Noren focuses his practice on international tax planning for multinational companies. David advises clients on a wide range of "outbound" and "inbound" issues, with a particular focus on the subpart F anti-deferral rules, the application of bilateral income tax treaties, and the treatment of cross-border flows of services and intellectual property rights under transfer pricing and other rules.

Prior to joining the Firm, David served as legislation counsel to the Joint Committee on Taxation in the US Congress where he advised the House Ways & Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee and other members of Congress on proposed international tax legislation. He played a major role in the development of several international tax bills, including those culminating in the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.

David also advised the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the review and ratification of several tax treaties and protocols, carried out the international tax aspects of special investigations and studies requested by members of Congress, and assisted in the Joint Committee staff's review of large tax refunds in the international area. Prior to working in Congress, David taught in the tax program at the New York University School of Law.

David has testified in congressional hearings on international tax issues and is a frequent writer and speaker on such topics. While in law school, David was an editor of the Harvard Law Review.

Eric D. Carstens focuses his practice on state and local tax matters, assisting clients with state tax controversy, compliance and multistate planning across all states for a variety of tax types and unclaimed property. Eric engages in all forms of taxpayer advocacy, including litigation, legislative monitoring and audit defense. He works closely with several of the Firm's taxpayer coalitions focused on specific state tax policy issues such as the taxation of digital goods and services and unclaimed property.

Eric has co-authored a number of articles in publications such as State Tax Notes and the Journal of Multistate Taxation and Incentives on various state tax issues and is an active contributor to the
Inside SALT blog.

Stephen (Steve) P. Kranz is a tax lawyer who solves tax problems differently. Over the course of his extensive career, Steve has acquired specific skills and developed a unique approach that helps clients develop and implement holistic solutions to all varieties of tax problems. He combines strategic thinking with effective skills for the courtroom, the statehouse and the conference room.

Steve helps clients prevent and resolve tax problems throughout their life cycle, starting with tax planning, compliance, financial statement implication analysis, audit defense and litigation, legislative monitoring and advocacy, and the formation and leadership of taxpayer coalitions. Steve developed many of these techniques as a litigator for the US Department of Justice, Tax Division, as chief counsel for the District of Columbia's Office of Tax and Revenue, and further refined them during his tenure as general counsel for the Council on State Taxation (COST).

Steve practices at the forefront of state and local tax issues, including developments in the world of cloud computing, artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT and digital goods and services. He helps clients understand tax threats and opportunities, and develop holistic solutions, no matter the tax issues or jurisdiction. He also brings this same skill set to the highly challenging world of unclaimed property.

Steve represents Fortune 100 companies in litigation while working to address the larger tax policy questions through state legislatures, the US Congress, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Governors Association, the Multistate Tax Commission and the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board. His background has taught him that standalone litigation is not always the most efficient manner of solving a tax problem or preventing its spread - thus, he often works to address problems by taking advantage of tax policy points of entry offered by state and local governments.

Steve has authored articles for professional publications, speaks at national conferences and is interviewed frequently by journalists covering state and local tax developments. He has appeared before the US House Judiciary Committee as an expert on alternative approaches to the Internet Sales Tax issues, and in a similar capacity before other government agencies. Steve serves as outside counsel on state tax and unclaimed property matters for the Entertainment Software Association, the National Retail Federation, the Retail Industry Leaders Association and CompTIA.

John Karasek advises public and private companies in relation to US and international tax matters. He represents clients in a range of industries, with an emphasis on life sciences, software and emerging technologies. John advises on matters such as procurement operations, manufacturing, IP planning, trading and principal companies, and distribution models.

John brings a unique, business-driven approach to tax planning, having previously been a member of the Value Chain Management consulting group at a Big Four accounting firm. John develops a comprehensive understanding of his clients’ goals, the business’ core value drivers, and industry trends, and ultimately helps clients integrate tax planning into their strategic objectives.

John has presented on tax matters at the Tax Executives Institute and the American Bar Association at regional and national meetings. While in law school, John served as an associate editor for the Washington University Global Studies Law Review.

Alejandro (Alex) Ruiz advises clients on the tax aspects of complex domestic and cross-border transactions and on the formation and operation of private equity funds, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures, growth capital, continuation vehicles, and divestitures involving private equity sponsors and private companies.

Alex’s clients include private equity funds, private and public companies, venture capital funds, individuals, hospitals, physician practices, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), strategic investors, and tax-exempt organizations. He has extensive experience advising buyers, sellers, founders, and joint venture partners in transactions involving healthcare companies, particularly in the development of tax efficient financial arrangements and transaction structures designed to comply with federal and state healthcare laws.

Additionally, Alex has experience advising on the tax aspects of fund sponsor compensation arrangements, management co-investments, and incentive equity compensation, as well as drafting equity purchase and profits interest agreements and complex bonus plans.

Alex speaks regularly at the firm’s industry and legal symposia on a range of subjects, including the impact of tax reform on private equity and M&A, drafting and negotiating tax provisions in transaction documents, mastering the tax aspects of partnership transactions, qualified small business stock, and structuring private equity transactions.

Richard C. Call focuses his practice on a broad range of state and local tax matters, including litigation, advisory, and transactional work. He represents clients in proceedings before administrative bodies, trial courts, and appellate courts across multiple jurisdictions.

Corporate Income Tax Litigation and Transactions: Richard has significant experience with all major areas of corporate income tax, advising clients on complex issues such as nexus, apportionment, addbacks, transfer pricing, and combination . He represents clients on transfer pricing and alternative apportionment issues in various states, including Alabama, Louisiana, and South Carolina. He also regularly works with clients to evaluate and efficiently structure state income and franchise tax related to mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions.

Sales Taxes and Company Business Models: Richard advises clients on sales tax issues that are affecting their overall business models, helping companies structure transactions to mitigate sales tax exposure, which often results in significant savings. As states increasingly expand the taxation of software, digital products, and services, he assists companies in identifying and managing their exposure to such taxes, particularly in advance of mergers, acquisitions, and other liquidity events.

Personal Income Tax Residency: Richard routinely advises clients on residency for various states, including New York, Massachusetts, California, and Illinois

Speeches and Publications: Richard frequently speaks on state and local tax issues and has presented before organizations such as the NYU SPS Annual Institute on State and Local Taxation, the Council On State Taxation, the Tax Executives Institute, and the Practising Law Institute. He also publishes frequently on state and local tax topics, with articles appearing in several publications, including Tax Notes State, Bloomberg BNA Weekly State Tax Report, Bloomberg BNA Multistate Tax Report, Tax Executive, Journal of State Taxation, Boston Business Journal, and NYU SPS Annual Institute on State and Local Taxation.

Jonathan D. Lockhart focuses his practice primarily on international tax planning and controversies. Jonathan helps clients structure international acquisitions and reorganizations in a tax-efficient manner, as well as with foreign earnings repatriation, foreign tax credit planning and intellectual property migration.

While in law school, Jonathan served as an assistant editor for the William Mitchell Law Review and was a National Tax Moot Court participant. He also served as an extern for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Office of the Chief Counsel in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

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 J. Wilder focuses his practice on corporate and international tax issues. He has extensive experience in structuring corporate mergers and dispositions, spin-offs, liquidations, cross-border transfers and financing instruments, as well as in the areas of consolidated returns, bankruptcy and insolvency tax matters. Michael represents clients in seeking private letter rulings from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and in handling audit and appeals matters. Michael is the leader of McDermott’s Corporate Tax Practice.

Michael has taught advanced international taxation at Georgetown Law School. He also speaks frequently on tax issues.

Previously, Michael worked in the Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Corporate) at the IRS for fourteen years. At the IRS, he reviewed and consulted on guidance projects, technical advice memoranda, private letter rulings, litigation, spin-offs, and other matters concerning corporate tax transactions and issues.

Before his legal career, Michael was a professional chess player. He became the national champion of the United States in 1988 and was awarded the title of international grandmaster in 1989.

Damon M. Lyon focuses his practice on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, global planning and international controversies for multinational companies. He advises clients on a broad range of tax issues, including tax-efficient structuring of acquisitions, dispositions, financings, internal reorganizations and joint ventures. Damon also provides advice concerning multi-jurisdictional business structures, such as intangible holding companies and finance company structures.

Barry J. Quirke focuses his practice on international corporate tax matters, including planning for corporate acquisitions, dispositions, reorganizations, spin-offs, joint ventures, intercompany transactions and cross-border financings. He works extensively with multinational corporations on post-acquisition integration strategies.

Barry previously served as the chief tax officer of a NYSE-traded mobile industrial equipment manufacturer with operations in more than 160 countries. He has developed and implemented global effective tax rate planning strategies for outbound and inbound multinational companies. Barry has worked on structuring multi-jurisdictional acquisitions, post-acquisition integration, internal reorganizations and joint ventures in Europe, Latin American and the Asia/Pacific region.

Barry speaks frequently on international tax topics for various professional organizations. He previously served as an adjunct professor at the Northwestern University School of Law LLM Tax Program and is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois College of Law where he teaches international taxation.

Catherine (Cate) A. Battin is the head of McDermott Will & Schulte’s State & Local Tax Practice Group and has practiced at the firm for more than 20 years.

Cate represents clients in all aspects of state and local tax matters, including controversies at the audit, administrative, and judicial levels across several jurisdictions. She advises on national state tax strategies involving a broad range of issues, such as income tax apportionment, sourcing, nexus, transfer pricing, combination and sales tax characterization of products and services, and other local excise tax issues. She has a particular focus on state and local tax controversies and has litigated cases throughout the United States, successfully arguing cases before state appellate and supreme courts.

Cate regularly speaks on state and local tax issues and has presented before organizations such as the Tax Executives Institute, the Council on State Taxation, the Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois, and The Chicago Tax Club.

Prior to joining McDermott, Cate worked at a major international accounting and consulting firm, where she focused exclusively on state and local taxes.

Edward L. Froelich represents domestic and foreign public corporations, privately held companies, partnerships, trusts and individuals across the spectrum of federal tax controversies, including audits, trials and appeals. Ed’s clients include businesses, business owners and investors with operations and interests in the financial services, technology, real estate, healthcare and other industries.

A former trial attorney for the Tax Division of the US Department of Justice, Ed draws on his Justice experience to provide effective advocacy in Internal Revenue Service examination and appeals and in litigation before federal courts. Among other issues, Ed has successfully represented clients in disputes involving transfer pricing, worthless stock deductions, cross-border transactions, tax credits, income tax accounting, insurance, employment tax, accounting method issues and a variety of penalty assessments.

Ed also advises concerning privilege and work product questions and reporting obligations, including the obligation to file information returns such as those relating to the Form 1099 series, Form 1098, FinCEN 114, FATCA and employment taxes.

Ed is the author of the United States chapters of The Tax Disputes and Litigation Review and The Transfer Pricing Review, published by Law Business Research. He is a co-author of BNA’s Privilege in Tax and Accounting Matters (T.M. 635) and The Section 7525 Tax Practitioner-Taxpayer Privilege and Related Issues (Accounting Policy and Practice Series No. 5511).

After earning his law degree, Ed served as a law clerk for the Honorable John P. Wiese of the US Court of Federal Claims.

Highly experienced advocate with 10 US Supreme Court arguments and 100+ appellate and trial court arguments nationwide

Secures major victories across administrative law, intellectual property, immigration, life sciences, securities, transportation, and energy, including landmark Supreme Court cases

Designs and leads high-impact affirmative litigation, often against federal and state agencies to achieve regulatory and policy wins

Handles complex appeals and challenges to government actions

Michael J. Bruno advises multinational companies, funds, single family offices, and entrepreneurs on sophisticated US and international tax planning and transactions. He has extensive experience in advising clients in the technology, healthcare, life sciences, digital health, consumer products, FinTech and cryptocurrency, and sports and entertainment industries.

Michael regularly advises clients on mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, joint ventures, and divestitures in various business contexts. He has assisted clients with many international tax issues, including navigating anti-deferral (controlled foreign corporation (CFC) and passive foreign investment company) regimes, foreign tax credit planning, export planning, treaty planning, intellectual property migrations, tax-efficient cash repatriation strategies, and post-acquisition integration and implementation.

Michael also regularly advises entrepreneurial families on strategies for minimizing US income taxation with respect to their closely held businesses and investments, including qualified small business stock planning. Through comments and a presentation, Michael advocated on behalf of The Florida Bar Tax Section for Congress, the Internal Revenue Service, and the US Department of the Treasury to afford the Section 250 deduction to electing Section 962 shareholders that earn Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income, as well as reinstating the repeal of Section 958(b)(4) for CFC downward attribution.

He has written numerous articles on international tax planning and frequently submits comments on statutory and regulatory promulgations. As a strong proponent for pro bono legal services, Michael founded the Transactional Equal Justice Program with Legal Services of Greater Miami, which offers free legal advice to nonprofits and low-to-moderate income small business owners to help them launch a business.

Steven Hadjilogiou focuses his practice on tax optimization of business operations and investments with a specific emphasis in the areas of international tax and real estate. Steven provides advice on international inbound and outbound tax planning for multinational companies, family offices, private equity and ultra-high net worth individuals. He also advises funds, family offices and ultra-high net worth individuals in connection with complex real estate structuring and investment issues, including in the areas of opportunity zone funds, 1031 transactions and qualified small business stock.

Steven has represented various Fortune 500 companies and major privately held businesses in their tax planning and supply chain projects, and also has substantial experience advising on transfer pricing, tax-related intellectual property matters, Subpart F, GILTI, foreign investment in US real property and outbound investment in real property. Steven also advises clients on pre-immigration planning and cross-border wealth succession. Steven has also worked on the taxation of partnerships and corporations, mergers & acquisitions and international corporate reorganizations.

Since 2013, Steven has been an adjunct professor of International Inbound Taxation at the University of Miami Graduate Tax Program. He is the co-chair of the annual Florida Bar/FICPA International Tax Conference. Steven has written numerous articles and presented on topics related to tax. He was a primary drafter of the amicus curiae brief submitted to the US Supreme Court on behalf of the Florida Bar Tax Section in Knight v. Commissioner in 2008.

Advises US and non-US multinationals on corporate and international tax matters

Counsels on domestic and cross-border acquisitions, dispositions, restructurings, and liquidations

Guides publicly traded and privately held companies on spin-offs Represents clients in obtaining private letter rulings and other IRS guidance

Todd A. Solomon focuses his practice on designing, amending and administering pension, profit sharing, 401(k), employee stock ownership and 403(b) plans, as well as nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements. He also counsels privately and publicly held corporations and tax-exempt entities regarding fiduciary issues under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), employee benefits issues involved in corporate transactions, executive compensation matters and the implementation of benefit programs for domestic partners of employees.

Todd has significant ERISA Title I experience and has counseled plan fiduciaries with respect to investment policies, private equity, hedge funds, and other alternative investments, prohibited transaction issues, investment management agreements and payment of expenses from plan assets.

He advises multinational clients on global employee benefits matters and compliance issues. Todd is a council member of the International Bar Association Global Employment Institute (GEI) and serves as editor of the GEI’s Annual Global Report on global legal issues impacting human resources.

Todd represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service on issues such as Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS) filings, Audit Closing Agreement Program (CAP) negotiations, benefit plan audits and applications for determination letters. He negotiates with the Department of Labor in connection with benefit plan audits and Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program filings, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in connection with 4062(e) events and plan terminations.

Todd is the former head of the Firm's Pro Bono & Community Service Committee. He received the 2008 McDermott Will & Emery award for Outstanding Achievement and Commitment to Pro Bono and Service to the Community. Additionally, he is a member of the McDermott's Diversity and Inclusion Committee and has been involved with evaluating the Firm's domestic partner benefits policies and working with businesses in Chicago in jointly advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in the workplace.

Todd is a fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, which recognizes attorneys who have made significant contributions to the advancement of the employee benefits field for at least twenty years. He is also ranked among the nations’ leading employee benefits and executive compensation lawyers by Chambers USA and The Legal 500 United States.

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.