About the company
Our client is a law firm.
The role
Raydar is recruiting for this role on behalf of our client. Counsel employers on the creation, upkeep and regulatory compliance of retirement programs, with a focus on tax-qualified arrangements. Partner with corporate colleagues on the benefits side of deals and advise on senior-level pay structures. The position involves direct client contact and a route to equity partnership.
What you'll do
- Create and update retirement savings and pension arrangements for employer clients of many sizes.
- Guide plan sponsors and fiduciary committees through everyday compliance, testing, corrective filings and government audits.
- Roll out the requirements of new retirement legislation and track ongoing regulatory changes.
- Work with deal teams on benefits due diligence, reviewing a target's programs, flagging exposure, negotiating contract protections and managing integration after closing.
- Advise on deferred pay programs, senior-level pay packages, stock-based awards and separation terms.
- Build relationships with institutional clients and support them through busy year-end periods.
- Take part in a team-based practice that encourages cross-group work and helps junior lawyers grow.
Requirements
What we're looking for
- Roughly 4 to 10 years of law firm practice in employee benefits, centered on retirement and ERISA matters.
- Hands-on background in setting up, documenting and revising tax-qualified retirement programs.
- Experience advising employers who sponsor benefit programs, or handling the benefits portion of corporate transactions.
- Command of qualified plan compliance topics such as testing, corrections, audit response and adoption of new legislative requirements.
- A JD from an accredited law school.
- Admission to the New York bar, or eligibility and willingness to waive in.
- Excellent drafting and written communication skills, producing plan documents, amendments, memos and client deliverables.
- A collaborative, team-oriented style and a responsive, proactive approach to communication.
- Residence in the region, or readiness to relocate there.
Bonus points
- Experience with benefits diligence and post-closing integration in mergers and acquisitions.
- Background in deferred pay rules, employment agreements, severance and equity-based incentive programs.
- A tax LL.M. or CPA credential.
- Exposure to group health and welfare plan regulation.
- Comfort working directly with clients.
- Existing ties to upstate New York.
Benefits
Compensation and benefits
- Base salary: USD 139,000 to 192,000 per year
Location and work model
- Rochester, Buffalo or Albany, New York, United States
- Hybrid, approximately 50% in-office over the course of a year
- Full-time