Experience With over 14 years of experience in employee benefits, Brian is focusing his practice on the design, installation and operation of qualified and non-qualified retirement and welfare plans (e.g. 401(k) plans, ESOPs, pension plans, 457 plans, COBRA, medical reimbursement plans, executive compensation). This includes assisting clients on complying with their benefit-related fiduciary duties; drafting of plan documents including amendments and summary plan descriptions; consulting with employers and fiduciaries on problem solving in relation to the management and operation of the plans; representing clients involved in Internal Revenue Service audits and Department of Labor investigations; and providing technical advice to administrators and actuaries. Brian earned the Qualified Pension Administrator designation in 1999 and the Certified Pension Consultant designation in 2000 from the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA). Prior to joining GrayRobinson, he worked in various positions within the Retirement Plan Services department of a large financial institution. During that time, he handled the daily administration of qualified employer plans as well as the annual nondiscrimination testing and government reporting. Brian also works with the Labor/Employment Law section in defending employers against claims in the investigation and litigation stages at the federal, state and local levels, including claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation and wage and hour issues. In addition, he assists the Intellectual Property Law section in directing clients through the process of obtaining copyrights and trademarks and protecting valuable trade and business secrets, including enforcing rights related to trademark and copyright matters. Background Brian was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. In 1997, he received his undergraduate degree in accounting from Baldwin-Wallace College in Cleveland, Ohio. Brian moved to Orlando and joined GrayRobinson as a paralegal in the Employee Benefits section in 2003. In 2004, Brian began attending Barry University School of Law part time while he continued to work full time at GrayRobinson. Upon graduation in December 2007, Brian became an Associate with the firm. Professional · The Florida Bar · Orange County Bar Association · American Bar Association Civic · ASPPA Education and Examination Committee, Vice Chair · ASPPA Benefits Council of Central Florida, Board of Directors, 2009-current
- President, 2012
- Past Vice-President, 2011 · Apopka Area Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors · Habitat for Humanity for Greater Apopka, Board of Directors · Leadership Apopka, Class II Publications/Presentations · Safe Harbor for Selection of Annuity Providers, ASPPA asap (October 27, 2008) · Severance Agreements and Compliance, presented at the 12th Annual Employment Law Seminar (November 6, 2008) · Know This Notice-PPA Participant Disclosures, The ASSPA Journal (Fall 2008) · Employee Benefit Issues Facing Small Business, presented at Apopka Chamber of Commerce Business Seminar (January 27, 2009) · Employee Benefits, presented at Florida Bar Tax Practitioners' Annual Review and Update (November 3, 2009) · After the Eye of the Storm - Employee Benefit Issues, presented at the 13th Annual Employment Law Seminar (December 3, 2009) · Employee Benefits Update, presented at Florida Bar Tax Practitioners' Annual Review and Update (November 5, 2010) · IRS Retirement Plan Exam Issues, presented at the Benefits Conference of the South (May 13, 2011) · Get Ready Here Come the IRS Auditors, presented at the Pension Investors Corp. of Orlando CPE Seminar (June 8, 2011) |