Jessica helps clients navigate the complex and evolving area of employee benefits law, including tax-qualified retirement plans (both defined contribution and defined benefit pension plans), nonqualified deferred compensation plans, health and welfare benefit issues and executive compensation matters. She also frequently handles benefits and compensation issues arising in corporate transactions, employment agreements and vendor contract negotiations. She works with clients on a broad array of employee benefits matters, advising on compliance with ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, the Affordable Care Act, SECURE 1.0 and SECURE 2.0, HIPAA and COBRA. In addition, she regularly advises on compensation and benefits aspects of employment agreements and severance arrangements.

Jessica has experience providing advice to employers and plan sponsors at all stages in an organization’s life cycle. In the transactional context she regularly negotiates employee benefits representations and covenants, helps clients navigate executive compensation issues arising under Section 409A and Section 280G of the Code, and advises on benefits transition and integration issues.

She is a trusted advisor for employers and plan sponsors, helping them understand their ongoing legal obligations with respect to retirement and welfare benefit plans, keeping them up to date on regulatory changes, and advising on plan amendments and terminations.

In addition to for-profit entities, Jessica also regularly advises tax-exempt and not-for-profit entities on their unique executive compensation and benefits requirements, in particular under Section 457 of the Code.

Bar Admissions

Education
JD, Columbia Law School, Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems, Managing Editor, 2010

BSFS, International Politics, Georgetown University Walsh School of Foreign Service, cum laude, 2005

• Advises clients with respect to the design and operation of tax-qualified retirement plans to ensure compliance with ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code and other applicable law.
• Assists clients with the design, implementation and operation of welfare benefit plans including group health plans, cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements, to ensure compliance with ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, HIPAA and COBRA.
• Advises clients on compliance with health care reform.

• Member, American Bar Association, Tax Section, Employee Benefits Committee – Assistant Vice Chair, Mergers & Acquisitions Subcommittee

• Where Calif. Privacy Law and Employee Benefits Data Collide, Law360