The 2019 ESOP National Conference, an annual gathering for employee owners from all levels, association volunteer leaders and expert professionals, took place May 22–24. Two McDermott partners, Theodore (Ted) M. Becker and Erin Turley, presented three sessions during the conference, the slides of which are available for download on the conference website. See descriptions of the presentations below:
Continue Reading
Selling a Family or Multi-Shareholder Business to an ESOP
In a presentation for the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) Conference, Erin Turley presented on selling a family of multi-shareholder business to an ESOP. She discussed ownership transition alternatives and how to execute the ESOP transaction. Below are a few key takeaways from the presentation.
- A multi-shareholder-owned company should not be a deterrent selling
Fridays With Benefits Webinar | The Triage Unit: Cutting Health Plan Costs Without Sending Benefits to the Emergency Room
Join us Friday, April 19 as Erin Turley and Judith Wethall discuss some of the innovative strategies organizations are employing to achieve transparency, reduce fees and provide enhanced offerings when negotiating multi-year health and welfare benefit plan contracts.
Our lively 45-minute discussion will cover emerging trends you can leverage at the negotiating table, including
- Pharmacy
Worker Classification: Complications Beyond the Front Page
When California’s Dynamex decision rolled out the “ABC test”, it placed the burden on the employer to prove independent contractor (IC) status. In a presentation at the Employment and Employee Benefits Forum in California, McDermott’s lawyers discussed the implications of Dynamex, as it applies to various types of employers as well as those using
Paving the Way for More HRAs
President Trump signed an executive order last year directing the Secretaries of Labor, Treasury and Health and Human Services to consider proposing regulations to “increase the usability of HRAs.” This month, the collective departments issued proposed regulations containing changes to the prohibition on pairing HRAs with individual health policies, as well as other changes to
Get Your Game On – How To Handle IRS and DOL Audits
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
Hidden Costs in Benefit Contracts: What You Don’t Know May Cost You
During our Tax in the City roundtable event in Dallas, Erin Turley and Judith Wethall presented on the hidden costs in benefit contracts. They provided attendees with a checklist of what to look out for in contracts, including services, protection and pricing terms. When negotiating contracts, Erin and Judith recommended establishing a list of needs
Wellness Initiatives and Designing Consumer Driven Health Plans
During the most recent Tax in the City event in Dallas, Partners Erin Turley and Judith Wethall, presented on the rise of consumer driven health care. Some popular programs they discussed include wellness, smoking cessation, high deductible health plans and HSAs, telemedicine, direct contracting and affordable care organizations. They also discussed the compliance complexities associated
ESOP Litigation Trends: Department of Labor Voids Fiduciary Indemnification Agreements to Reach Settlements
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
Settling the Standard for Prudence? Fall Brings New Guidance for ESOP Trustees
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.