Michael H. Woolever focuses his practice on executive compensation, ERISA Title I issues, ERISA class action litigation, and other employee benefit and federal income tax matters. He is a partner in the firm’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation and Taxation Practices.

Michael regularly represents both employers and senior executives in all forms of executive compensation for both corporations and partnerships and executive employment matters involving employment agreements, equity compensation plans, and various other forms of compensation arrangements. He has written and spoken extensively on Code Section 409A and its impact on various forms of compensation arrangements.

Employee Benefits Experience

Michael regularly represents both ERISA plans and sponsors of various forms of alternative investments in connection with the fiduciary and other rules governing investments by ERISA plans. His practice also focuses on advising clients in other types of matters involving the fiduciary rules under Title I of ERISA and in representing clients before the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, particularly in bankruptcy matters. Michael also works on a regular basis with firm litigators in connection with the defense of novel ERISA class action claims and other ERISA related litigation, including ERISA preemption of state laws.

Federal Income Tax

In his more than 45 years of practice, Michael has developed broad policy-based federal income tax skills and has extensive experience in representing clients nationwide in connection with Internal Revenue Service audits, before the Appeals Division of the Internal Revenue Service and in court. He also regularly provides general federal income tax advice and counsel to the attorneys in the firm who work on both acquisitions and bankruptcy and business reorganizations matters.

Legislative and Regulatory Health Insurance Matters

Michael also has been deeply involved in the health insurance industry-related legislative and regulatory matters, including solvency issues, reinsurance arrangements, third-party administration arrangements, regulatory filings, sales of blocks of business, and ERISA preemption and related issues relevant to the health insurance industry, as well as the proposed Department of Labor service provider disclosure regulations.