Employee Benefits Transactional Support

Overview

Our team draws from a deep bench of dedicated employee benefits and executive compensation practitioners, each of whom is experienced in counseling clients in mergers and acquisitions (M&A). We are uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive and cost-effective employee benefits-related transactional support. Working closely with BakerHostetler’s Business Group, we advise clients across a diverse range of sectors, including private equity funds and public and private businesses, in all stages of M&A transactions, large and small.

We take a practical, business-focused approach to employee benefits-related issues and opportunities that arise in M&A deals. While it is important for companies to understand the implications of benefits issues, we know that it is vital to suggest and implement practical solutions focused on our clients’ broader business goals. We do this by:

  • Providing comprehensive due diligence support for buyers (e.g., completing a full review of benefits programs, identifying gaps or problems, suggesting practical and economical corrections) and for sellers (e.g., preparing disclosure schedules and responding to due diligence inquiries).
  • Drafting and negotiating employee benefits-related provisions of purchase agreements that reflect up-to-date changes in the law and best practices.
  • Working with all interested stakeholders to address the treatment of outstanding equity compensation in a tax-advantageous way.
  • Identifying and solving problems to mitigate risks to both buyers and sellers and allocating costs on an efficient basis.
  • Dealing with unique and complex COBRA and Affordable Care Act compliance issues that arise in the context of M&A.
  • Navigating complex funding and termination liability rules relating to cash balances and pension plans and working through multi-employer pension plan funding and withdrawal liability issues.
  • Reviewing potentially costly employee benefits, such as retiree medical coverage, and presenting alternatives for handling them.
  • Developing and implementing pre- and post-closing employee benefits transition and integration strategies, including those relating to executive compensation.
  • Assisting with employee benefits-related communications during and after a transaction.
  • Dealing with workforce transition issues, including leasing arrangements and agreements.
  • Working closely with BakerHostetler’s Employment Deal Team on due diligence and risk assessment on all matters related to employment, labor and immigration.

Select Experience

  • Worked on the employee benefits aspects of multibillion-dollar acquisitions and divestitures for a multinational food and beverage company, including the acquisition of a division of a global pharmaceutical corporation.
  • Worked on all facets of employee benefits issues in acquisitions and divestitures for venture capital firms and developed a sensitivity to matters that are important to such firms.
  • Guided large manufacturing clients through employee benefits due diligence and pre- and post-closing benefits transition issues as part of numerous acquisitions.
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Experience

  • Worked on the employee benefits aspects of multibillion-dollar acquisitions and divestitures for a multinational food and beverage company, including the acquisition of a division of a global pharmaceutical corporation.
  • Worked on all facets of employee benefits issues in acquisitions and divestitures for venture capital firms and developed a sensitivity to matters that are important to such firms.
  • Guided large manufacturing clients through employee benefits due diligence and pre- and post-closing benefits transition issues as part of numerous acquisitions.
  • Worked with a client to form and establish new health and welfare and retirement plans as part of a billion-dollar corporate spinoff transaction.
  • Assisted with post-closing retirement and health and welfare plan corrections, including related corrective filings through the IRS Voluntary Correction Program and the Department of Labor Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program.
  • Worked for an insurance company providing representation and warranty insurance to various buyers and sellers in M&A transactions.
  • Provided counsel regarding employee benefits and workforce transition issues for a major medical company engaged in five acquisitions and dispositions totaling nearly $4 billion in value.

Recognition

  • Chambers USA: Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation – Ohio (2007 to 2021)
  • The Legal 500 United States:
    • Labor and employment – Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation & Retirement Plans: Design (2016 to 2021)
    • Labor and employment – Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation & Retirement Plans: Transactional (2016 to 2020)
  • U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”
    • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law: National (2012 to 2020); Cleveland (2011 to 2020); Columbus (2018 to 2020); Orlando (2012 to 2020);
    • Litigation – ERISA: National (2012 to 2020); Cleveland (2012 to 2020);
  • Recognized as one of the top law firms for client service, BakerHostetler was named to the 2020 BTI Client Service 30 for the sixth consecutive year.

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