US

Executive Compensation, Benefits and Employment Law Practice

The US Executive Compensation, Benefits and Employment Law practice consists of a distinguished group of experts with broad expertise. With offices in New York; Washington, DC; Los Angeles; Miami and Palo Alto, our lawyers work together to create results-based strategies that meet our clients' needs. PLC Cross-Border Quarterly has called our practice "one of the top ten global employment practices" for the past three consecutive years and the group is highly rated by Chambers USA. Individual members of the U.S. ECBEL group have also been recognized in Chambers USA, Legal 500 USA, and PLC Which Lawyer?.

The strength of our practice lies in its depth and diversity. Our Executive Compensation and Benefits Practice counsels clients on the creation, structure and ongoing communication requirements of tax-qualified retirement plans and welfare benefit plans, including pension plans, 401(k) plans and cafeteria plans; assists companies in maintaining IRS and ERISA compliance and in resolving any plan qualification problems that may arise in connection with their qualified plans, including representing clients in dealings with the IRS, the Department of Labor and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. We counsel investment fund sponsors and plan fiduciaries regarding ERISA fiduciary issues and responsibilities, including ERISA's "plan asset" regulations and prohibited transaction rules, in connection with pension plan investments. We offer creative problem-solving strategies to help our clients address complex issues. We also provide executive compensation strategies to our clients for a wide range of issues, including assisting clients in establishing and maintaining nonqualified plans of deferred compensation, such as "top hat" plans and incentive plans.

Our Employment Law Practice advises employers on various federal, state and local employment laws, including discrimination laws, wage and hour laws, and the many different types of leave provided under federal and state laws; provides advice and counseling on day-to-day employment issues that confront managers and human resource professionals; defends employers against wrongful termination, discrimination and compensation claims in state and federal courts, administrative agencies and arbitrations and other alternative dispute resolution proceedings; and provides clients with in-depth analysis in the drafting and execution of employment and consultant agreements, separation agreements and releases, and settlement agreements. Our Los Angeles presence enables us to seamlessly advise national and international employers on the particular complexities of doing business in California, whose employment and competition laws are in many aspects unique in the United States. We also conduct seminars and provide training on topics such as preventing workplace harassment and discrimination, as well as handle and investigate claims of workplace harassment and discrimination. Our lawyers also provide guidance to clients on employment, benefits and compensation issues that are implicated in corporate mergers, acquisitions, initial public offerings and corporate downsizing.

To help keep our clients informed of the best practices appropriate for their businesses, White & Case lawyers regularly write updates, highlighting changes in the law. Our monthly newsletter, the Executive Compensation, Benefits and Employment Law Focus [link] and our timely electronic "Client Alerts" provide up-to-date information on relevant employment, compensation and benefits issues. We also lead and participate extensively in external seminars, and have written a number of market-leading articles across a broad spectrum of issues.