John Papahronis' practice encompasses the entire range of employee benefit services, including qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, executive incentives and deferred compensation arrangements, legal compliance and fiduciary counseling, and health and welfare plans. In addition, he has particular experience and expertise counseling employers on health and welfare plan compliance and administrative matters, including COBRA, HIPAA and cafeteria plans. John provides services to both taxable and nontaxable employers and has particular experience working with governmental entities, including numerous municipalities throughout the state of Oklahoma. John is a frequent speaker at seminars on employee benefits topics, including the SouthWest Benefits Association Intermediate Level Training Seminars for Employee Benefits Practitioners and Plan Sponsors, the SouthWest Benefits Association Annual Employee Benefits Conference for Practitioners and Plan Sponsors, and the Oklahoma Society of Accountants' Governmental Accounting and Auditing Conference. He is co-author of Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Client Strategies, published by Aspatore Books in 2008. He has also authored articles in various publications, including the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants' CPA Focus, the Oklahoma Bankers Association's Oklahoma Banker, and the Oklahoma Municipal League's Cities and Towns. John's achievements have earned him inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (employee benefits/ERISA law) and Oklahoma Super Lawyers (employee benefits/ERISA law). Representative Experience · Counseled public and private companies and governmental entities on the design, drafting and administration of all forms of employee benefits plans, including qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, executive compensation arrangements and health and welfare plans. · Representation of clients in complex fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction matters, both in counseling and litigation. · Representation of clients before governmental agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. · Assisted clients with the rehabilitation of qualified retirement plans that have incurred a "qualification" failure. · Counseled clients on complex employee benefits matters resulting from corporate transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, buyouts, joint ventures, spin-offs and divestitures. Attorney Articles · Deadline approaching for amending health flexible spending accounts and other medical reimbursement expense plans
McAfee & Taft EmployerLINC Employee Benefits Update - June 16, 2011 · Important information for employers with fully insured medical plans
McAfee & Taft Employee Benefits Alert - October 27, 2010 · Health Care Reform: Important regulations issued on grandfathered plans
McAfee & Taft Employee Benefits Alert - June 24, 2010 · New rules on notice requirements for breach of unsecured HIPAA protected health information
McAfee & Taft Employee Benefits Alert - September 15, 2009 In The News · New health care law prohibits varying benefits among staff
The Oklahoman - November 16, 2010 · Healthcare Reform calls for medical coverage of adult children
The Oklahoman - June 18, 2010 · Stimulus allows health coverage to continue for fired workers
The Oklahoman - March 3, 2009 · Oklahoman article spotlights 'Super 401(k)' developed by firm attorneys
The Oklahoman - January 23, 2008 At The Podium · Administrative and Legal Issues in Implementing Wellness Programs presented at Health at Work Coalition Meeting on June 14, 2011 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. · Employee Benefits: Compliance Strategies to Avoid Sanctions, Penalties and Litigation presented at EmployerLINC 2011 Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Seminar on April 26, 2011 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. · Health Care Reform and Retirement Plan Update presented at Enid Society for Human Resource Management Meeting on February 17, 2011 in Enid, Oklahoma. · How New Regulations Are Impacting Company Retirement Plans presented at Fall 2010 Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Seminar on October 26, 2010 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. · Guiding your Health Plans through a Changing Landscape presented at Fall 2010 Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Seminar on October 20, 2010 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. · Health Plans and the New Laws presented at Spring 2010 Labor & Employment and Employee Benefits Seminar on May 26, 2010 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. · Health Plans and the New Laws presented at Spring 2010 Labor & Employment and Employee Benefits Seminar on May 19, 2010 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. · A Case Study in Wellness presented at 2010 SouthWest Benefits Association / IRS Plan Administration Skills Workshop on February 12, 2010 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. · Employee Benefits Update presented at LEEB University on October 2, 2009 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Professional Organizations And Memberships · Oklahoma County Bar Association · Oklahoma Bar Association · American Bar Association · SouthWest Benefits Association |