Whether working with public or private entities, our lawyers have a breadth of experience in evaluating employee compensation and benefit structures and providing solutions that will attract and retain talented employees and encourage commitment to the employer.

Our attorneys assist with the drafting and negotiation of employment and severance contracts, including those with restrictive covenants where warranted, and employment arbitration agreements and unemployment appeals. For senior level executives and superintendents, we negotiate and draft agreements relating to compensation and other terms of employment, keeping in mind relevant tax provisions for both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

In the area of employer-sponsored employee welfare benefit plans, we assist clients with incentive compensation arrangements, employee wellness plans, and review of cafeteria plans, as well as the preparation of wrap documents. We also advise clients in select areas of benefit compliance at the state and federal level, including offers of COBRA, IPERS consequences, disability coverage, and with various IRS forms, including Form 5500 Filings.

We advise clients in employee retirement matters, including the preparation and administration of qualified and non-qualified deferred compensation plans. We focus on structuring deferred compensation arrangements to ensure compliance with recent statutory and regulatory changes affecting plans under sections 403(b) (tax-sheltered annuity plans), 457(b) (eligible deferred compensation plans), 457(f) (ineligible deferred compensation plans), and 409(a) (nonqualified deferred compensation plans) of the Internal Revenue Code.

For public clients specifically, we assist with state compliance (Iowa Code Ch. 509A) regarding insurance and benefits for state employees, as well as consultation on Collective Bargaining Agreements and the changing landscape following action by the State legislature.