Allison Wilkerson

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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). Read Allison Wilkerson's full bio.

COVID-19 Ate My Homework – Recent Extensions and Relief for Retirement Plans

By Diane Morgenthaler, Allison Wilkerson and Erin Steele on May 18, 2020
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Employment, Fiduciary and Investment Issues, Retirement Plans

In recognition of the difficulties faced by retirement plan sponsors, participants and beneficiaries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new guidance extends the deadlines for notices and disclosures required by Title I of ERISA and extends deadlines for retirement plan participants and beneficiaries to submit benefit claims and benefit appeals. The new guidance also provides some...

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COVID-19 FAQs: For Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation

By Erin Steele, Erin Turley, Evan A. Belosa, Joshua N. Lerner, Jacob Mattinson, Judith Wethall, McDermott Will & Emery, Sarah L. Engle, Brian Tiemann, Allison Wilkerson, Andrew Liazos and William R. Pomierski on Mar 26, 2020
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Executive Compensation, Health and Welfare Plans, Retirement Plans

Coronavirus (COVID-19) raises serious concerns for employers of all shapes and sizes, across all industries and in every business sector. As the impact of COVID-19 continues to grow, many employers are faced with new challenges that affect not only their businesses and their employees, but the health and welfare, retirement and executive compensation plans and...

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Fridays With Benefits Webinar | Quick & Easy Recipes for Fixing 401(k) Plans

By Judith Wethall, Brian Tiemann, Allison Wilkerson and Sarah L. Engle on May 9, 2019
Posted In Employee Benefits, Retirement Plans

Join us Friday, May 17, as Allison Wilkerson, Brian Tiemann and Sarah Engle join host Judith Wethall to talk through the value of conducting a proactive self-audit of 401(k) plans. They will provide best practices designed to reduce the risk of costly government investigations. Attendees will come away prepared and confident in their position, and...

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Get Your Game On – How To Handle IRS and DOL Audits

By Allison Wilkerson and Erin Turley on Oct 25, 2018
Posted In Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans, Retirement Plans

During the Tax in the City event held in Dallas, Erin Turley and Allison Wilkerson gave an overview of benefit plan audits and the IRS examination process. They discussed various areas of focus, including, required minimum distributions, investment issues, benefit calculations and appropriate tax reporting. They provided attendees with best practices before an audit, as...

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Unique ESOP Structure Considerations

By Allison Wilkerson on May 22, 2018
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Fiduciary and Investment Issues, Retirement Plans

ESOP transactions continue to grow in sophistication as sellers, plan sponsors and fiduciaries seek to meet certain goals and regulatory requirements. Allison Wilkerson, and other panelists for this presentation, reviewed a number of advanced transaction structures that are being utilized more and more to address specific needs identified by one or more of the parties...

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Compensation for Privately Held Companies

By Allison Wilkerson on May 3, 2018
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Executive Compensation

Allison Wilkerson presented on a panel at the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) Conference. The panel provided an overview of issues impacting compensation matters, as well as decisions affecting privately held companies that are wholly or partially owned by an ESOP. The presentation included an analysis of certain legal requirements and a current view...

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ESOP Litigation Trends: Department of Labor Voids Fiduciary Indemnification Agreements to Reach Settlements

By McDermott Will & Emery, Allison Wilkerson, Emily Rickard, Erin Turley, J. Christian Nemeth and Rick Stepanovic on Apr 12, 2018
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Fiduciary and Investment Issues

The US Department of Labor has taken the position that certain indemnification clauses are void against public policy under Section 410 of ERISA. This policy has been adopted by private plaintiff classes; as evident from a recent settlement, a policy that voids indemnity provisions can limit defense budgets, make settlements more likely and potentially create...

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Settling the Standard for Prudence? Fall Brings New Guidance for ESOP Trustees

By McDermott Will & Emery, Allison Wilkerson, Emily Rickard, Erin Turley, J. Christian Nemeth and Rick Stepanovic on Dec 5, 2017
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Fiduciary and Investment Issues, Retirement Plans

Through a series of recent settlements, the US Department of Labor has outlined the process steps fiduciaries should follow in connection with a transaction involving a purchase from, or sale to, an employee stock ownership plan. Continue Reading.

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Are Your Employee Communications Up to Snuff? — ERISA Disclosure Practices

By McDermott Will & Emery and Allison Wilkerson on Oct 12, 2017
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Fiduciary and Investment Issues, Health and Welfare Plans, Retirement Plans

Mary Samsa and Allison Wilkerson discussed that the majority of ERISA disclosures are in fact employee communications – many of which are viewed as “routine” by employers. As such, plan sponsors are continually balancing the best way in which to relay complex benefit plan information in a manner to best be understood by employees but...

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