Mid-level Employee Benefits Associate - US

BCLP; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 250,000 - 315,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work flexibility

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP (BCLP) seeks a mid-level associate with 5-6 years of employee benefits and executive compensation experience to join its national team in any of its Denver, Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, New York, or St. Louis offices.

You will advise employers, plan sponsors, fiduciaries, and corporate clients on a broad range of benefit and compensation matters. The role offers opportunities in sophisticated transactions, regulatory counseling, ESOPs, and healthcare and welfare

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials.
• 5-6 years of substantive employee benefits and executive compensation experience at a law firm, accounting firm, consulting firm, government agency, or comparable setting.
• Meaningful experience advising on ERISA and Internal Revenue Code requirements applicable to retirement, welfare, and executive compensation arrangements.
• Experience supporting benefits matters in corporate transactions.
• Exceptional analytical, drafting, and communication skills.
• Strong project management abilities and a client-service mindset.
• Ability to manage multiple matters and work collaboratively in a national team environment.
• ESOP transactions and ongoing ESOP compliance.

Responsibilities

• Executive compensation matters, including employment agreements, deferred compensation, equity incentive plans, restricted stock, stock options, and other incentive compensation programs.
• Employee benefits and compensation issues arising in mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, restructurings, and other corporate transactions.
• ERISA compliance, fiduciary matters, and governmental audits and investigations.
• Qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, including 401(k), defined benefit, cash balance, and ESOP arrangements.
• Health and welfare benefit plans, including HIPAA, COBRA, ACA compliance, FMLA, and related regulatory requirements.
• Design, implementation, administration, and ongoing maintenance of employee benefit and executive compensation programs.
• Drafting and reviewing plan documents, amendments, SPDs, agreements, and related disclosures.
• Advising clients on emerging benefits and compensation developments and regulatory changes.

Skills

Executive compensation

ERISA compliance

Analytical skills

Drafting skills

Project management

Client service mindset

Team collaboration

ESOP experience

Education

J.D. from a law school

Job description

At BCLP, we’ve built our firm on the foundations of thinking differently. Curious, inquisitive and unbound by tradition, we’re building change within our sector and beyond.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP (BCLP) is seeking a talented and highly motivated mid-level associate with 5-6 years of experience to join our nationally recognized Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team in any of its Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, New York, or St. Louis offices. Working alongside market-leading practitioners, including the firm's Employee Benefits Practice Leadership, this attorney will advise employers, plan sponsors, fiduciaries, and corporate clients on a broad range of employee benefits and executive compensation matters. This position offers the opportunity to play a significant role in sophisticated transactions, regulatory counseling, and strategic benefits planning for public and private companies across a variety of industries.

BCLP's Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice assists clients in navigating the increasingly complex legal and regulatory landscape governing retirement plans, executive compensation, health and welfare benefits, and ESOP transactions. The team regularly advises on plan design, implementation, compliance, fiduciary obligations, corporate transactions, and tax-related issues affecting employee benefit arrangements. The practice is particularly recognized for its experience with ESOPs, executive compensation programs, retirement plans, and benefits and compensation-related aspects of mergers and acquisitions.

You’ll be responsible for

• Executive compensation matters, including employment agreements, deferred compensation, equity incentive plans, restricted stock, stock options, and other incentive compensation programs, as well as considering the impact of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A on various arrangements
• Employee benefits and compensation issues arising in mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, restructurings, and other corporate transactions, including the application and impact of Internal Revenue Code Section 280G
• ERISA compliance, fiduciary matters, and governmental audits and investigations
• Qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, including 401(k), defined benefit, cash balance, and ESOP arrangements, including correction of operational and document failures
• Health and welfare benefit plans, including issues involving HIPAA, COBRA, ACA compliance, FMLA, and related regulatory requirements
• Design, implementation, administration, and ongoing maintenance of employee benefit and executive compensation programs
• Drafting and reviewing plan documents, amendments, SPDs, agreements, and related disclosures
• Advising clients on emerging benefits and compensation developments and regulatory changes

Skills and experience required

• J.D. from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials
• 5-6 years of substantive employee benefits and executive compensation experience at a law firm, accounting firm, consulting firm, government agency, or comparable setting
• Meaningful experience advising on ERISA and Internal Revenue Code requirements applicable to retirement, welfare, and executive compensation arrangements
• Experience supporting benefits matters in corporate transactions
• Exceptional analytical, drafting, and communication skills
• Strong project management abilities and a client-service mindset
• Ability to manage multiple matters and work collaboratively in a national team environment
• ESOP transactions and ongoing ESOP compliance

Why BCLP?

• Work with a global team of experienced lawyers in a collaborative, inclusive environment.
• Be part of a firm recognized for its commitment to diversity, innovation, and professional development.
• Robust training and development programs.
• Hybrid work flexibility.

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With more than 1,000 lawyers in 31 offices across North America, Europe, and the Middle East, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP is a fully integrated global law firm that provides clients with connected legal advice, wherever and whenever they need it. The firm is known for its relationship-driven, collaborative culture, diverse legal experience and industry-shaping innovation and offers clients one of the most active M&A, real estate, financial services, litigation and corporate risk practices in the world.

BCLP offers eligible employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance coverage, life insurance, and retirement plans. We also provide eligible employees with flexible time off plans including paid Parental leave, Paid Time Off (PTO), and paid holidays.

At BCLP we understand the value of a workforce with diverse perspectives and experiences, and we believe people perform at their best when they can truly be themselves at work. We aim to create an inclusive environment where all our employees are valued, motivated and able to be themselves. In order to provide the best possible service to our robust client base, we are committed to recruiting, retaining, rewarding and developing our people with regard to their abilities and contributions and without reference to their background, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnic origin, age, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, political belief, disability or any other applicable protected characteristic.

• Signee to the United Nations’ Global LGBTQ* Standard of Conduct for Business
• Named by Stonewall as a “Top Global Employer 2025”
• BCLP has received a top score in the HRCF’s Corporate Equality Index for 19 years. On the 2023-2024 index we scored 95%.

BCLP is an equal employment opportunity employer. The Firm strictly prohibits discrimination against any applicant or employee based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, military status, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation or medical conditions related thereto), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law. The Firm also strictly prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any protected class or status. The Firm complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting applications for employment, including consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state law. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on BCLP. Please inform the Firm's personnel representative if you need accommodation to assist in completing this application or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Pursuant to the Colorado, Illinois and New York pay transparency laws, BCLP is posting a reasonable estimate of a compensation range for an Associate with five to six years of experience. At the time of posting, the estimated range is $250,000 to $315,000. Actual compensation will be influenced by various factors, including, but not limited to, the level of relevant experience, skill sets, training, licensure and certifications, market data, and other job-related factors permitted by law. The range is based on a full-time work schedule.

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