Experience

• Assisted plan sponsors update group health plans for health care reform changes.
• Advised large private manufacturing company with respect to the redesign of its qualified pension plan to use a cash balance formula and the merger into the plan of several existing pension plans.
• Advised plan sponsors on self-correction of administrative errors and negotiated compliance statements with the Internal Revenue Service.
• Represented private manufacturing company in connection with a governmental audit of its qualified pension plans and its qualified 401(k) plans.
• Assisted large tax-exempt organization in restructuring the allocation of fiduciary responsibilities for the investment of assets of the pension plan and retiree medical plan.
• Conducted fiduciary training for corporate executives who serve on benefit plan committees.
• Assisted a global producer of packaging products integrate the qualified defined benefit and defined contribution plans acquired in its purchase of another company into its benefit program, including plan mergers involving several 401(k) plans.
• Revised the supplemental executive compensation plans of several employers to meet business needs and comply with recent law changes.
• Restructured the tax-exempt trust for the health benefit plan of a large manufacturing company.
• Negotiated agreements with investment fund managers in connection with investment of assets by pension plan trust in those funds.
• Negotiated complex service agreements with benefit administration firms.
• Terminated and liquidated a trust organized as a voluntary employees beneficiary association providing disability and life insurance benefits.
• Regularly advises plan sponsors on the creation, documentation, administration and legal compliance for qualified pension, profit-sharing and 401(k) plans.

Honors & Activities

Professional Honors & Activities

• Named as Best Lawyers^® as Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law “Lawyer of the Year,” Salt Lake City, 2016, 2018 and 2020
• Included in The Best Lawyers in America^© (currently: Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law), 2005-2020
• Selected as one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” (Utah) by Chambers USA (currently: Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation), 2014-2020
• Listed in Who’s Who in America
• Listed in Who’s Who in American Law
• Section leader, Stoel Rives Employee Benefit’s practice group, 2009-2010
• Member, Utah State Bar, Tax, Labor and Employment Sections
• Member, Western Pension & Benefits Conference

Civic Activities

• Former chair, Employee Appeals Board of Taylorsville City, Utah
• Former member, Government Affairs Committee of the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
• Former member, District Committee of Boy Scouts of America
• Former Judge Pro Tem, Third District Court, State of Utah
• Former Board Member, CPA/Law Forum

Insights & Presentations

• “Health Care Reform: Version 2.0,” Stoel Rives Seminar, May 2014
• “Health Care Reform: Preparing for 2014,” Stoel Rives Seminar, May 2013
• “Health Care Reform: Group Plan Updates,” Stoel Rives Seminar, Sept. 2011
• “Make No Mistake – But if you do, it pays to fix that 401(k),” Utah Business magazine, Jan. 2010
• “Section 409A – A Practitioner's View,” Utah State Bar, 2008
• “Fiduciary Responsibilities,” Soltis Retreat, 2004
• “Legal Issues – Defined Contribution Health Plans,” Marsh Seminar, 2002

Related News & Publications