Brandon Richards focuses his practice on employee benefits and related areas. He regularly assists clients with issues arising under diverse types of retirement and health and welfare plans including qualified retirement plans (including multiemployer defined benefit pension plans), welfare benefit plans (including multiemployer welfare benefit plans), 403(b) plans, executive compensation arrangements subject to Code Section 409A, and other types of employee benefit arrangements.
Representative Matters
· Assists clients with qualified retirement plan and 403(b) plan administration and compliance with the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA including benefit claims administration, QDRO administration, correction of errors under EPCRS and VFCP, determination letter applications, and restatement of plan documents, etc.;
· Assists multiemployer pension and welfare plans with all issues relating to multiemployer plan design and administration including withdrawal liability, plan funding, fiduciary liability, drafting and maintenance of plan document including reciprocal agreements, notice and disclosure requirements, and various other issues that are unique to multiemployer plans;
· Assists clients with issues relating to health and welfare plans including health care reform compliance, COBRA administration, HIPAA compliance, state law requirements that are not preempted by ERISA, benefit claims, and participant notices, etc.;
· Assists clients with Code Section 409A compliance with respect to diverse types of executive compensation arrangements including employment agreements, bonus plans, stock option plans, and severance arrangements.
Community Involvement
Seven Fields Borough, Zoning Board Member
Articles/Speeches/Presentations
· "Multiemployer Plans: a Legal Perspective," co-presented with Sandra Mihok at the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Construction Industry Conference, October 2011.
· "Cobra Strikes," co-presented with Paul Yenerall at the Eckert Seamans' HR Forum, June 2009.