Experience

Smith & Downey, P.A.

• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Partner

  • Nov 2003 - Present

  I advise for-profit, tax-exempt, governmental and church-related employers of all sizes, in all industries and in all areas of the country, concerning the full range of employee benefit issues (including retirement, health and fringe benefit programs), including all aspects of ERISA. I have experience in designing, drafting and providing advice concerning all types of employee benefit and executive compensation programs, including tax-qualified and non-tax-qualified deferred compensation and retirement plans (including 401(k), 403(b) and defined benefit plans), equity and other incentive compensation plans (including employee stock purchase plans), and all types of welfare benefit programs. I can assist in any period of a plan's "life" - from design/implementation, compliance issues during operation (including help with DOL/IRS audits), and plan termination. I have considerable experience in the area of executive compensation for both taxable and tax-exempt employers, and frequently advise tax-exempt employers regarding compliance with Code sections 409A and 457, the IRS's intermediate sanctions rules and Form 990 reporting requirements with respect to executive compensation. I also advise taxable and tax-exempt employers with respect to their employment agreements, severance agreements and executive compensation arrangements (including incentive and equity-based compensation). I regularly work with other professionals (financial advisors, insurance experts, actuaries, third party administrators, CPAs, etc.), as well as other attorneys, who require for their clients legal advice in my practice area.I received my undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from Frostburg State University and received my law degree from the University of Maryland School Of Law, where I graduated with Honor. I am a member of the Maryland and South Carolina Bars. Smith & Downey is a law firm with a national practice concentrating in employee benefits and executive compensation.



McGuireWoods LLP

• Law Practice
• 700 & Above Employee

• Associate

  • Sep 2001 - Nov 2003

  General Corporate General Corporate