Joe Yonadi is a partner with more than 20 years of experience advising clients on the full spectrum of ERISA and tax compliance matters. His practice includes guiding employers through the design, implementation and administration of tax‑qualified retirement plans; executive and incentive compensation programs; and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). He regularly negotiates employee benefits and compensation provisions in mergers and acquisitions and provides strategic counsel on post‑integration benefit and compensation issues.
Joe advises public companies in the U.S. and abroad, privately held businesses and nonprofit organizations. He counsels retirement plan committees on ERISA fiduciary obligations covering everything from investment oversight to managing risks related to plan fees. Joe has also successfully defended against early‑stage plaintiffs’ efforts in potential fiduciary‑breach matters.
Joe is the co-leader of the ESOP practice team where he represents sellers, lenders and trustees on ongoing compliance and fiduciary governance, as well as business owners in evaluating the advantages of ESOPs as succession planning tools. He also maintains a sophisticated executive compensation practice, advising companies on nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements, long‑term incentive plans, stock options, equity and phantom‑equity programs, and alternative equity structures for S‑Corporations, LLCs and partnerships. Known for his practical guidance and financial insight, Joe helps clients navigate complex tax requirements under Internal Revenue Code Sections 409A, 280G and 162(m) while aligning compensation strategies to broader business goals.
