Market Areas > Human Resources > ERISA

ERISA Plan Governance Boot Camp: Nuts and Bolts of Committee Charters and Investment Guidelines

Course Description:

Plan administration suits and stock drop litigation are on the rise. And it’s not just the volume that’s increasing– the settlement figures are skyrocketing.  In fact, the top ten ERISA class action settlements in 2008 totaled $17.7 billion.  That’s an astronomical 800 percent increase over 2007.

How can you effectively devise and utilize preventative strategies to avoid ERISA claims? 

In this must-attend CCM teleconference, with a focus on the practical, you’ll learn what steps you can take today to minimize your legal exposure for an ERISA suit.  You’ll also learn:

• Best practices for fiduciaries to avoid and reduce ERISA violations and liabilities,
• What’s behind the recent wave of ERISA class action lawsuits, and
• Corporate culture: How to manage your CFO.

Plus, our expert faculty will walk you through a real-life committee charter and investment guidelines to see what aspects are good – and what actually leaves you liable. Through this document review, you'llnot only learn what needs to be included in aplan committee charter and investment policy, but also:

• Who is a fiduciary
• What should a fiduciary do – and what they should NOT do
• Best practices for fiduciary plan structure
• How to delegate fiduciary responsibilities appropriately
• How to establish a prudent process of decision making
• The types of lawsuits that are on the rise
• Understand how monitoring is crucial to limiting your liability
  

Featured Faculty:

George Kasper, Pullman & Comley

George J. Kasper practices in the area of sophisticated employee benefit plan issues encountered by employers, plan fiduciaries and third-party service providers.

George assists employers involved in corporate transactions in reviewing employee benefit plans, identifying potential risks and liabilities and implementing plan terminations, transfers and spin-offs. He has extensive experience advising employers on the design and administration of employee retirement and welfare benefit plans and non-qualified plans. He is experienced in dealing with the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor on matters involving tax qualified single and multi-employer pension and profit sharing plans. He advises plan sponsors including state and local governments and trustees concerning pension funding issues, plan structure, union-negotiated plans and administrative procedures as well as fiduciary duties.

George is knowledgeable about a variety of welfare benefits including flexible benefit programs and self-insured health plans. He advises clients regarding COBRA continuation coverage and FMLA coverage, reporting and disclosure requirements and compliance with applicable state laws.

Howard Pianko, Partner, Employee Benefits Department of Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Howard Pianko is a partner in the Employee Benefits Department of Seyfarth Shaw LLP. His career as a benefits attorney began shortly after the enactment of ERISA. He has advised a wide range of clients on the matters relating to employee benefits, executive compensation, pension investment, plan governance, fiduciary responsibility and benefit related litigation. His work, both in the U.S. and with respect to cross-border and international benefit matters involving domestic and non-U.S. multinationals, has led him to write extensively on employee benefit topics relating to mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, pension plan investments, fiduciary laws and executive compensation. He has lectured on these topics in the U.S.; and spoken in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America on cross-border subjects such as global equity compensation programs, internationalizing the ESOP, benefit aspects of U.S. joint ventures and the globalization of defined contribution plans.

MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE:

We're so confident you'll get what you want out of this conference that we'll refund every penny if you're not completely satisfied. No questions asked! It's 100% risk-free!

Pricing:

Unable to Attend?  Order the CD!
Your CD recording includes the complete audio conference presentation, audience Q&A and presentation materials.

APPROVED FOR RECERTIFICATION CREDIT:

HRCI - Receive 1.5 recertification credit hours toward PHR and SPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HRCI homepage at www.hrci.org.

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