Gretchen H. Rogge

Counsel

Cleveland
T +1.216.861.7030
F +1.216.696.0740

Overview

Gretchen Rogge focuses her practice on employee benefits, primarily in the areas of qualified plans, mergers and acquisitions and health and welfare plans.

Working with both public and private companies, she offers practical advice on issues relating to IRS submissions and plan documentation, advises on employee plan-related risk in corporate mergers and acquisitions and counsels on all aspects of health and welfare plans, including design, operation and issues relating to the Affordable Care Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and Medicare. Gretchen also assists her clients with regulatory issues, including Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS) filings and responding to Department of Labor audit requests.

Select Experience

Qualified Plans

  • Prepared IRS submissions to obtain favorable determination letters for cash balance and 401(k) plans.

M&A

  • Assisted with the employee benefit aspects of acquisitions and divestitures for a multinational food and beverage company, including the acquisition of a division of a global pharmaceutical corporation.

Health & Welfare Plans

  • Counseled a multinational company on health and welfare matters, including plan design, day-to-day administration, employee communications and controversies.
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Experience

Qualified Plans

  • Prepared IRS submissions to obtain favorable determination letters for cash balance and 401(k) plans.
  • Compiled plan termination filings and successfully managed plan termination process for qualified plans, including ESOPs.
  • Prepared plan documents, summary plan descriptions and plan amendments.
  • Prepared documentation for plan mergers and terminations.
  • Reviewed draft adoption agreements for employers transitioning from individually designed plans to prototype plans.

M&A

  • Assisted with the employee benefit aspects of acquisitions and divestitures for a multinational food and beverage company, including the acquisition of a division of a global pharmaceutical corporation.
  • Identified potential employee plan-related risks in corporate mergers and acquisitions.
  • Assisted clients with terminating, restructuring and consolidating employee benefits plans post-closing.

Health & Welfare Plans

  • Counseled a multinational company on health and welfare matters, including plan design, day-to-day administration, employee communications and controversies.
  • Prepared all documentation related to health and welfare plans, including plan documents, amendments, summary plan descriptions and other disclosures.
  • Advised clients on all aspects of plan operations for cafeteria plans, flexible spending accounts, health reimbursement accounts and health savings accounts.
  • Reviewed and negotiated third-party administrator and other vendor agreements.
  • Directed clients in maintaining group health plans compliant with the Affordable Care Act, COBRA, HIPAA, mental health parity rules and the Medicare secondary payer rules.

Regulatory

  • Prepared Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS) filings.
  • Helped clients negotiate with agents and compile documentation responding to Department of Labor audit requests.

Recognitions and Memberships

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • Ohio State Bar Association

Admissions

  • U.S. Tax Court
  • Ohio

Education

  • J.D., Boston University School of Law, 1997; admitted to Annual Review of Banking Law
  • B.A., Northwestern University, 1992