Lisa Tavares is a member of the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group. She assists clients with the design and implementation of qualified and nonqualified deferred compensation plans and welfare plans. She also counsels clients on all types of executive compensation, including supplemental executive retirement plans (SERPs), rabbi trusts, executive employment agreements, incentive compensation and similar projects. Ms. Tavares advises public and private employers on all areas related to ERISA. Her practice regularly includes the administration of both pension and welfare plans, including negotiating service provider contracts and working extensively with clients confronting issues related to mergers and acquisitions. These matters can include due diligence, plan mergers, terminations, transition planning and employee relations issues.
Her practice also involves compliance issues with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Department of Labor (DOL) and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). Ms. Tavares regularly assists clients in the preparation of employee communications and responses to governmental inquiries.
Ms. Tavares joined Venable after five years as an attorney with the Internal Revenue Service, Office of Chief Counsel, National Office, where she concentrated on qualified plan issues under examination and in litigation. Her responsibilities included advising the IRS Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division, IRS Appeals Officers and IRS Agents. She worked extensively on litigation regarding plan disqualification, partial termination, prohibited transactions and worker classification issues. Ms. Tavares also has a background in Directors and Officers Liability and ERISA Fiduciary Liability Insurance.
Activities
Ms. Tavares is the Chair of the Subcommittee on Self-Correction, Determination Letters and Other Administrative Practices of the ABA Tax Section, Employee Benefits Committee in which she interfaces directly with IRS and DOL officials on issues related to retirement plan administration, regulatory compliance and governmental enforcement initiatives. She also is a member of the IRS Mid-Atlantic Pension Liaison Group that meets with IRS officials several times a year to discuss qualified plan, regulatory, compliance and examination issues. In addition, Ms. Tavares is a member of the Retirement Income Task Force of the American Benefits Council (ABC).
Government Experience
Senior Attorney, Internal Revenue Service, Office of Chief Counsel
Memberships
American Bar Association (ABA):
Employee Benefits Committee, Tax Section
Employee Benefits Committee, ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section
Employee Benefits Committee, ABA Labor and Employment Section
Retirement Income Task Force of American Benefits Council (ABC)
IRS Mid-Atlantic Pension Liaison Group
National Employment Law Council
Greater Washington Area Chapter (GWAC) of the National Bar Association
News
January 23, 2007, Venable LLP Promotes Seventeen to Partner
Publications
Ms. Tavares has contributed to the BNA Publication, Employee Benefits Law, authored by members of the Labor and Employment Section of the American Bar Association and has spoken for various groups on employee benefit issues.
February 2012, Retirement Plan Fee Disclosure - Action Needed
Harry I. Atlas, Lisa A. Tavares
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
April 2011, Form 5500 Update: IRS Issues Guidance on Replacement to Schedule SSA
Lisa A. Tavares, Jessica E. Kuester
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
March 2011, Focus on Misclassification - Are Your Workers 'Employees' or 'Independent Contractors?'
Lisa A. Tavares, Brian M. Hudson, Jessica E. Kuester
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
November 2010, Year-End Wrap-Up for Benefit Plans
Thora A. Johnson, Lisa A. Tavares
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
October 2010, New Opportunities for In-Plan Roth Conversions
Lisa A. Tavares, Jessica E. Kuester
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
July 2010, It Ain't Easy Being Green: More Changes to Form 5500 Electronic Filing
Lisa A. Tavares, Jessica E. Kuester
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
April 2010, Mental Health Benefits: More Changes Needed to Your Health Plan
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
March 2010, Important Changes to Form 5500 Filing Requirements
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
March 2010, Important April 30, 2010 Deadline for Employers Who Have Adopted Pre-Approved Retirement Plans
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
January 2010, IRS Issues Section 409A Plan Document Correction Procedures With Potential Advantages To Correction By December 31, 2010
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
Related Topic Area(s): Tax and Employee Benefits
December 2009, Federal COBRA Subsidy Expanded
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
November 2009, Effective Date of Normal Retirement Age Regulations Extended for Governmental Plans
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
August 2009, Update on Legal Developments Affecting Employee Benefit Plans
Harry I. Atlas, Jennifer Spiegel Berman, Kenneth R. Hoffman, Thora A. Johnson, Barbara E. Schlaff, Lisa A. Tavares, John A. Wilhelm
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
July 2009, Looking Toward 2010 - Key Legal Changes to Keep in Mind While Designing Your 2010 Health Plans
Harry I. Atlas, Jennifer Spiegel Berman, Kenneth R. Hoffman, Thora A. Johnson, Barbara E. Schlaff, Lisa A. Tavares, John A. Wilhelm
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
July 2009, Important News for 403(b) Plan Sponsors
Harry I. Atlas, Jennifer Spiegel Berman, Kenneth R. Hoffman, Thora A. Johnson, Barbara E. Schlaff, Lisa A. Tavares, John A. Wilhelm
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
Related Topic Area(s): Tax and Employee Benefits
March 19, 2009, Department of Labor Issues Model Notices on COBRA Subsidy
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
March 2009, Supreme Court Rules Plan Documents, Not Divorce Decree, Control in ERISA Beneficiary Dispute
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
February 25, 2009, What Every Employer Needs to Know (and Do) About the New COBRA Subsidy Provisions in the Economic Stimulus Act
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
December 2, 2008, Year-End Checklist for Benefit Plan Sponsors
Harry I. Atlas, Jennifer Spiegel Berman, Kenneth R. Hoffman, Thora A. Johnson, Barbara E. Schlaff, Lisa A. Tavares, John A. Wilhelm
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
November 20, 2008, Venable Employee Benefits Lawyers Selected as
Best Lawyers in America
Kenneth R. Hoffman, Barbara E. Schlaff
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
October 28, 2008, 2009 Dollar Limits on Compensation and Benefits
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
October, 2008, Roundup of Important Developments Affecting Health Plans
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
September 25, 2008, Tax-Exempt Healthcare Prepares for 2009: Key Compensation and Reporting Points
Constance H. Baker, Ted L. Ramirez, Peter P. Parvis, Thora A. Johnson, Lisa A. Tavares, Barbara E. Schlaff
Related Topic Area(s): Tax and Employee Benefits
September 2008, The Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 (the "HEART" Act)
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
July 2008, More Items for Your Section 409A Compliance Checklist
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
May 2008, Highlights of Retirement Plan Distribution Changes for 2008
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
March 2008, 401(k) Participants Can Sue Plan Fiduciaries For Losses To Individual Accounts
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
December 2007, Year End Wrap-Up for Qualified Plans
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
October 26, 2007, Section 409A Final Regulations Delayed to 2009
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
October 2007, 2008 Dollar Limits on Compensation and Benefits
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
September 2007, Form 990 Executive Compensation Reporting - Prepare for Change
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
Related Topic Area(s): Tax and Employee Benefits
August 2007, Important Developments Affecting Health Plans
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
July 2007, DOE Cost Reimbursement Policy and Cost Accounting Standards for Pension Plan Contributions Required Under New Funding Rules
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
July 2007, Section 403(b) Tax-Sheltered Annuity Final Regulations Expected This Week
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
May 25, 2007, IRS Issues Final Deferred Compensation Rules: Tax-Exempt Compliance Countdown
Lisa A. Tavares
Related Topic Area(s): Tax and Employee Benefits
April 2007, Current Regulatory and Legislative Developments Could Dramatically Affect Employment and Benefit Issues for Government Contractors
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
April 10, 2007, Final Regulations Regarding Deferred Compensation Under Section 409A Released Today
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
April 6, 2007, Tidbits from the Trenches: Indemnifications, Gross-Ups and Code Section 409A
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
April 3, 2007, Final Regulations Regarding Deferred Compensation Under Section 409A Expected Shortly
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
October 2006, November 14th Deadline for Sending Annual Medicare Part D Notice Fast Approaching
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
October 18, 2006, IRS Announces 2007 Dollar Limits on Compensation and Benefits
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
October 2006, The IRS Extends Deferred Compensation Plan Deadlines Under §409A
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
September 1, 2006, Landmark Pension Reform Law Enacted: How Your Retirement Programs Will Be Affected
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
July 2006, Good News for Plans
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
May 2006, Revised Model Medicare Part D Notices Are Now In Effect
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
October 18, 2005, IRS Announces 2006 Dollar Limits on Compensation and Benefits
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
February 2005, New Automatic Rollover Rules for Mandatory Cashout Distributions from Retirement Plans
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Alert
Events/Speaking Engagements
Past Events
March 30, 2012, "Correcting Errors Impacting Qualified Plans and Benefits Aspects of Worker Classification" at the ABA Employee Benefits Government Invitational Meeting
Lisa A. Tavares
May 8, 2010, "Are Prototype Plans the Solution?" ABA Tax Section, Employee Benefits Committee Meeting
Lisa A. Tavares
May 7, 2010, IRS Correction Program, ABA Tax Section, Employee Benefits Committee Meeting
Lisa A. Tavares
January 22, 2010, "Has the DOL found a way to bridge the deficit?" at the Midwinter ABA Tax Meeting
Lisa A. Tavares
May 8, 2009, DOL Enforcement Actions, ABA Tax Section, Employee Benefits Committee Meeting
Lisa A. Tavares
October 7, 2008, Updated EPCRS and Interim Amendments: New Rules and Coordination Issues
Lisa A. Tavares
November 2007, Testified before U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Way and Means as a neutral ERISA pundit regarding "Appropriateness of 401(k) Fees"
Lisa A. Tavares
October 30, 2007, House Ways and Means Committee Hearing on 401(k) Plan Fees
Lisa A. Tavares
June 26, 2007, Broken Plan Basics: Using the EPCRS, DFVC and VFCP Toolboxes
Lisa A. Tavares
May 8, 2007, Venable Webcast Series on New Executive Compensation Rules
Barbara E. Schlaff, Lisa A. Tavares