Clients value how Audrey brings her many years of experience as an ERISA attorney and as a benefits and executive compensation tax consultant at a Big Four accounting firm to bear in developing solutions to her clients' compensation and benefits challenges.

Overview

Audrey works with a wide range of clients, from individual executives, small private companies, and non-profit organizations to large multinational, publicly traded corporations to develop benefits, incentive, and equity plans, and executive employment agreements. She helps companies draft and amend qualified plans, reviews service provider contracts, advises on fiduciary issues, and advises on operational and tax issues impacting compensation and benefit programs, including issues under Code Sections 409A, 457(f), and 280G. Audrey also assists clients in participation in IRS (EPCRS) and DOL (VFCP) programs.

Experienced in employee benefits and tax law, Audrey helps clients with a wide range of benefits, tax, and executive compensation issues under ERISA and related statutes, from the day-to-day issues involved in operating benefit plans, to implementing strategic changes or addressing the compensation and benefits issues arising in transactions.

Experience

Audrey has helped companies correct document and operational errors in IRS programs for qualified retirement and nonqualified deferred compensation plans, and developed compliance programs related to payroll tax issues associated with compensation and benefits.

Audrey has helped clients implement special features within their pension plans, including phased retirement and lump sum options.

Audrey helped a company obtain a prohibited transaction exemption for a contribution of securities to its pension plan.

Audrey has helped foreign companies extend their equity incentive plans to U.S. employees.

Audrey has helped clients manage major benefit changes, such as benefit enhancements, vendor or investment changes, and plan terminations, by reviewing contracts, preparing filings, drafting plan amendments, reviewing communications, and addressing benefits plan governance and compliance issues.

News & Insights

Speaking Engagements

"Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Law Update," 2021 Virtual Business Law Update, March 2021

"Data Privacy and Cybersecurity for ERISA Retirement Plans," 2021 MSBA and Minnesota CLE Advanced Employee Benefits Workshop, February 2021

"Using Cash and Equity-based Incentive Plans to Retain Employees," Annual Construction Law Update, January 2021

"Data Privacy, Cybersecurity, and ERISA Retirement Plans," Minneapolis Pension Council, February 2020

"Compensation Committee Update," Minneapolis Corporate Governance and 2020 Proxy Season Workshop, November 2019

"Mergers & Acquisitions and Controlled & Affiliate Service Groups," ASPPA Benefits Council, Greater Twin Cities, June 19, 2018

"The New Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Impact on Employee Benefits," co-presenter, 2018 MSBA and Minnesota CLE Business Law Institute, May 2018

"Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Impact on Employee Benefits," co-presenter, Minnesota CLE Webcast, April 2018

"Survey of Executive Compensation Developments," Minneapolis Pension Council, February 2018

"The New Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Impact on Employee Benefits," co-presenter, 2018 MSBA and Minnesota CLE Advanced Employee Benefits Workshop, February 2018.

"Employee Benefits Update," Stinson's New Challenges for HR in 2018 Minneapolis Seminar, February 2018.

"State Taxation of Deferred Compensation and Selected Federal Tax Developments," MSBA 76th Annual Tax Institute, December 2016

"Regulation of Deferred Compensation 10 Years After 409A: Refresher and Lessons Learned," Employment Law Series, Minnesota CLE Webinar, October 2015

"Correction Programs: War Stories and New Developments," Minneapolis Pension Council, April 2015

"Placing Employees in Europe: Case Studies in Employment, Benefits and Corporate Tax Challenges Forum for Expatriate Management," Minneapolis Chapter, August 2014

Recognitions

Recognitions

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® list, 2023-2025

Professional & Civic Activities

Professional & Civic Activities

Minnesota State Bar Association Employee Benefits Section Council, Member

Minneapolis Pension Council, Past President

The National Association of Stock Plan Professionals

Great Lakes Area Tax Exempt/Government Entities (TE/GE) Council

Admissions

  • Minnesota

Education

University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1989

  • Virginia Tax Review, Articles Editor

University of Wisconsin, B.A., 1984 

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