Employee Benefits Mid-to Senior level Associate/Counsel/Senior Counsel (New York)

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

$360K — $380K *
Legal & Accounting
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Attorney specialized in employee benefits and executive compensation with 5+ years of experience under the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA.
  • In-depth technical knowledge of tax-qualified retirement plans, including 401(k) plans.
  • Strong expertise in nonqualified deferred compensation, including Section 409A compliance.
  • Excellent communication skills for translating complex legal requirements into practical guidance.
  • Ability to engage directly with clients and collaborate effectively with internal teams.
  • Must be admitted to the New York Bar or able to waive in.

Responsibilities

  • Advise on compliance with Internal Revenue Code and ERISA for qualified retirement and welfare plans.
  • Consult on multiemployer plans and manage vendor RFPs, negotiating contract terms.
  • Draft and negotiate agreements related to benefit plan investments.
  • Guide clients on pension de-risking strategies, including plan amendments and participant communications.
  • Prepare benefit plan governance documents and provide fiduciary training under ERISA.
  • Advise on employee benefits matters during mergers and acquisitions.
  • Offer counsel on ERISA compliance for asset managers.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive training programs including mentoring and continuing legal education.
  • Industry credentialing opportunities and hands-on learning with partners.
  • A dynamic, collaborative work environment focused on innovation and diversity.
Full Job Description
The Opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for an Employee Benefits/Executive Compensation lawyer with 5+ years of relevant experience to join us in our New York office.

Our highly regarded Employee Benefits Department is one of the largest and most sophisticated practices of its kind in the United States. Our depth and commitment to employee benefits set us apart, allowing our attorneys to access cutting-edge resources and to advise name-brand clients. We represent some of the largest and best-known businesses in key industries such as manufacturing, retail, healthcare, insurance and financial services. We constantly strive to find better ways to work with our clients and each other, and have been first-to-market on many legal service delivery innovations. Our long history of collaboration and innovation has created a dynamic, diverse firm culture that is equally dedicated to the growth of our clients and the development and resilience of our people.

The Day-To-Day

As an attorney in the Employee Benefits Department, you will have the opportunity to work on interesting, challenging and high-impact matters in collaboration with other attorneys inside and outside of the Employee Benefits Department. Representative matters include:

  • Advising on Internal Revenue Code and ERISA compliance in connection with qualified retirement plans, health and welfare plans, and nonqualified deferred compensation plans
  • Advising on multiemployer plans
  • Managing RFPs for benefit plan vendors and negotiating contract terms
  • Reviewing, negotiating and drafting agreements in connection with benefit plan investments
  • Advising clients regarding pension de-risking initiatives and drafting the related plan amendments and participant communications
  • Preparing benefit plan governance documents and training plan fiduciaries on their duties under ERISA
  • Advising on employee benefits issues in connection with mergers and acquisitions
  • Advising on ERISA compliance by asset managers
  • Advising companies and executives in connection with employment and separation agreements


You Have

  • Employee benefits and executive compensation attorney with 5+ years of experience advising under the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA
  • Deep technical knowledge of Tax-qualified retirement plans (including 401(k) plans)
  • Deep technical knowledge and understanding of nonqualified retirement plans and deferred compensation (e.g., plans subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code)
  • Excellent communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal requirements into clear, practical guidance for clients
  • Ability to work directly with clients and internal teams.
  • New York Bar admission (or the ability to waive in).


What We Provide

We provide competitive salary and benefits at all levels. For associates, we provide comprehensive training through our mentoring programs, CLE initiatives, Seyfarth University, industry credentialing, and hands-on learning by working side-by-side with our partners.

*NOTE TO AGENCIES:

Search firms with an active fee agreement may submit candidates for this position via our portal. Please email Christine Prenderville-King at [redacted] for access to submit. If you do not have an active fee agreement with us, please send a blind profile to Christine Prenderville-King at [redacted].

The salary range for this role is $360,000 to $380,000. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's pay within the salary range will be based on numerous factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, experience, skills, and business or organizational needs. This job is also eligible for an annual merit increase and bonus pay.

Location Specific Language

This position is based in New York, NY 10018

#LI-Hybrid

#LI-DNP

  • Employee benefits and executive compensation attorney with 5+ years of experience advising under the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA
  • Deep technical knowledge of Tax-qualified retirement plans (including 401(k) plans)
  • Deep technical knowledge and understanding of nonqualified retirement plans and deferred compensation (e.g., plans subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code)
  • Excellent communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal requirements into clear, practical guidance for clients
  • Ability to work directly with clients and internal teams.
  • New York Bar admission (or the ability to waive in).


As an attorney in the Employee Benefits Department, you will have the opportunity to work on interesting, challenging and high-impact matters in collaboration with other attorneys inside and outside of the Employee Benefits Department. Representative matters include:
  • Advising on Internal Revenue Code and ERISA compliance in connection with qualified retirement plans, health and welfare plans, and nonqualified deferred compensation plans
  • Advising on multiemployer plans
  • Managing RFPs for benefit plan vendors and negotiating contract terms
  • Reviewing, negotiating and drafting agreements in connection with benefit plan investments
  • Advising clients regarding pension de-risking initiatives and drafting the related plan amendments and participant communications
  • Preparing benefit plan governance documents and training plan fiduciaries on their duties under ERISA
  • Advising on employee benefits issues in connection with mergers and acquisitions
  • Advising on ERISA compliance by asset managers
  • Advising companies and executives in connection with employment and separation agreements

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