Albuquerque ERISA and Employee Benefits Lawyers
New Mexico firm advises on ERISA and Employee Benefits compliance issues and other matters
Hurley, Toevs, Styles, Hamblin & Panter, P.A. in Albuquerque provides counsel to businesses throughout New Mexico on the establishment of employee benefit plans and compliance with the rules that govern these programs. We clearly explain pertinent ERISA rules and also assist employers that don’t fall within that law’s purview, such as churches and government entities.
Setting up employee benefits
Drawing on decades of combined experience providing counsel to mostly large employers, we have a thorough understanding of ERISA plans and other types of employee benefits. We use the knowledge we’ve gained and our firm’s exceptional research capability to help clients looking to establish one or more of the following:
- Healthcare insurance
- Retirement plans, including 401(k) accounts and pensions
- Short-and long-term disability coverage
- Profit-sharing and stock option programs
- Deferred compensation and arrangements
During this process, we can design and draft new and existing plan documents, as well as participant communications about plan amendments and policies. You might also require reviews of other employee benefits documents, such as insurance policies and service agreements. As experienced business lawyers, we know how to develop plans tailored to each company’s goals and direction. From the outset, our attorneys will answer your questions about ERISA compliance and other critical legal matters so that you and your employees have confidence in the plans you create.
Why you need an employee benefits lawyer
Slight errors in the creation of an employee benefits plan could risk its tax-qualified status and expose your company to correction fees and penalties. ERISA and other laws that cover health and retirement plans are replete with complex provisions that can trip up someone who is not well versed with the relevant terminology and the real-world application of these standards. We have a tax-qualified plan that is pre-approved by the IRS. The plan can be adopted by an employer establishing or updating a 401(k), a profit-sharing plan or a money purchase plan. The adopting employer can rely on the IRS opinion letter issued to our law firm without having to apply to the IRS for their own determination letter about the plan’s tax qualification under the Internal Revenue Code.
Our employee benefits practice includes the following:
- Guidance on resolving plan problems through self-correction and the IRS Voluntary Correction Procedure
- Representation in audits conducted by the IRS and U.S. Department of Labor
- Preparation of responses when the IRS seeks to impose a penalty for the alleged violation of employer shared responsibility rules established in the Affordable Care Act
- Advice on retiree medical benefits
- Counsel regarding the application of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) employee benefit plans.
We also offer knowledgeable, practical advice on executive and employee retention plans and reviews. This might include assistance with issues such as:
- Nonqualified deferred compensation plans (top-hat elective deferrals and SERPs)
- Plans operating as ERISA payroll practices, such as bonus plans and paid time off policies
Whatever concern you have regarding employee benefit plans, our seasoned New Mexico attorneys can give you the information you need to make smart choices.
Contact a New Mexico employee benefits attorney to discuss your issue
Hurley, Toevs, Styles, Hamblin & Panter, P.A. provides knowledgeable counsel to New Mexico clients on issues relating to employee benefits. Please call 505-888-1188 or contact us online for an appointment with an experienced attorney. Our office is in Albuquerque.
