In today’s economy, attracting, retaining and rewarding employees is a critical component of any company’s business. As company and employee demands change and evolve, so must the benefit plans offered by employers in order to stay competitive. Our team understands that.
McAfee & Taft’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group ranks as one of the largest of its kind in the Southwest. Ten of the most knowledgeable and experienced employee benefits lawyers in the state of Oklahoma form the core of the team, while additional McAfee & Taft corporate attorneys and litigators are available to lend their expertise to specific areas of employee benefits law.
Both collectively and individually, our attorneys are actively involved with such leading industry organizations as the SouthWest Benefits Association, IRS EP/EO Councils, American College of Employee Benefits Counsel and the Department of Labor.
Our attorneys have extensive experience in all employee benefits matters, including:
- Qualified and nonqualified plan design and implementation
- Funding, deduction and taxation
- Executive incentives and deferred compensation
- Legal compliance
- Plan fiduciary counseling
- Welfare plans and flexible benefits
- Plan terminations and surplus assets
- ERISA litigation
- Subrogation and strategic recovery services
- Multi-employer plans and collectively bargained plans
- Mergers and acquisitions
- HIPAA, COBRA, USERRA
Client Diversity
McAfee & Taft’s Employee Benefits Group advises clients of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies and major universities to small professional businesses and tax-exempt employers, from coast to coast.
We represent clients on a wide variety of issues related to the design, preparation, communication, administration and operation of all forms of employee benefit plans and executive compensation programs and the related funding vehicles, including pension and profit sharing plans, leveraged ESOPs, stock option plans, stock purchase plans, incentive compensation programs, "rabbi" trusts, "cafeteria" plans, voluntary employees’ beneficiary associations, and Section 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans.
Practice group members also counsel with and negotiate on behalf of clients with respect to employee benefit issues that arise in connection with mergers, acquisitions, dispositions and other business transactions. When appropriate, we work closely with clients’ accountants, actuaries and third party administrators.
A Differentiated Approach
Just as no two employers are the same, neither are any two employee benefit plans. Our approach is to provide employers with customized plan options and the information they need to make informed business decisions.
The fact is that “boilerplate” and “cookie-cutter” programs simply don’t work in today’s environment, where employee benefits rules and regulations are constantly subject to change. That’s why it is especially vital that employers be represented by attorneys with the experience, expertise, and proactive mindset to develop cutting-edge solutions and to understand every plan alternative and consequence.
Given the depth and expertise of its Employee Benefits Group, McAfee & Taft also has the unique capability of providing a “team approach” to its client relationships. As a result of this structure, each member of our team can address a variety of issues either through their own experience or with the assistance and consultation of other group members.
For more specific details regarding our areas of expertise, please select from the links below.