Employee Benefits Attorney

Portland office of a BCG Attorney Search Top Ranked Law Firm seeks an employee benefits attorney with 5-10 years of experience practicing in employee benefits, including management-side experience advising clients. The candidate will be responsible for all aspects of compliance and advice work, including counseling HR professionals and business executives on compliance with federal, state, and local laws, drafting plan documents, agreements, and memoranda, and providing strategic thinking in avoiding and resolving legal and tax compliance issues. Should have experience with qualified and non-qualified retirement plans and health and welfare benefit plans, including knowledge of ERISA and applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code; Reviewing executive employment agreements and separation agreements for compliance with the Internal Revenue Code Sections 409A (deferred compensation) and 280G (golden parachute payments); Drafting and amending benefit plans and summary plan descriptions; Familiarity with IRS and DOL correction programs for plan errors and delinquent filings; Experience with equity and synthetic equity compensation arrangements and related tax issues; Reviewing plan service provider contracts; Taxation of settlement payments under federal and state tax laws and compliance with same in drafting; Payroll tax and withholding issues, including reporting income on IRS Forms W-2 and 1099-MISC; Affordable Care Act compliance; COBRA continuation coverage; Coordination of benefits between federal and state leave laws and disability plans; Compliance with HIPAA and state medical privacy laws, including business associate agreements; Review of retirement and health and welfare benefit plan issues in the context of mergers and acquisitions. Active Washington or Oregon State Bar membership is essential.

The candidate should have the ability to work collaboratively as well as independently. Must have ability to handle a variety of matters simultaneously to meet client demands. Excellent research, writing, communication, and interpersonal skills, including public speaking essential.

Get set for a diverse book of business at this full-service larger firm with branches extending from the Pacific Northwest to the shores of Great Britain. A long-established law firm, its undisputed reputation is built on excellence, professionalism and renown among prestigious global corporations and the legal community. We like the people in this firm and must admit that the firm does an excellent job of developing strong relationships with the recruiters who help it find candidates. Associates practicing at this firm almost universally seem to believe that it is a good place to work. While this firm is decidedly a full-service firm, most of the firm's growth recently has come in the corporate sector, where it is seeking to lay its claim to being one of the premier corporate shops in the region. The firm has a solid history and does an excellent job of holding onto its clients.