The employee benefits and executive compensation team at Proskauer Rose LLP has multifaceted capabilities, advising clients on both complex matters that large organizations face on a day-to-day basis, as well as high value business transactions. The firm is well-known for having a strong geographic focus on the East Coast, particularly in Washington DC and New York. In Washington DC, Seth Safra acts as the practice head and the point of contact for many Fortune 500 companies.. Justin Alex is adept at advising clients on single-employer and multiemployer pension plans. Alex is also based in Washington DC. Working from New York, Michael Album focuses his practice on the full range of executive compensation matters. Robert Projansky, also working from New York, specializes in working on employee benefit matters within the entertainment industry. In New Orleans, Jennifer Rigterink is a specialist in employee benefit tax and ERISA issues. In New York, Katrina McCann regularly assists on retirement and welfare plans.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Top-notch professionals in all areas of the law.’
‘Robert Projansky is exceptional. His familiarity with applicable law and his ability to explain its applicability to many fact patterns is reassuring. His calm, patient but firm demeanor instills confidence in our decisions.’
‘In addition to being technically excellent, Proskauer and its attorneys understand our corporate culture, which is very helpful.’
‘Michael Album is a good listener and constantly provides legal advice with common sense and a practical perspective. ’

Key clients

Citigroup Inc.
Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA)
Screen Actors Guild-Producers
Producer-Writers Guild
AFTRA Retirement Fund
American Federation of Musicians & Employers’ Pension Fund
IAM National Pension Fund
Union Labor Life Insurance Company (ULLICO)
Henry Schein, Inc.
National Basketball Association
Institutional Investor Representation
Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico
HealthEquity
RELX Inc.
Ahold Delhaize
The Metropolitan Opera Association
Foot Locker

Work highlights

Representing the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) Health Plan, the Screen Actors Guild-Producers Pension Plan, Producer-Writers Guild Health and Pension Plans, AFTRA Retirement Fund and multiple Broadway funds on all aspects of benefits plans, complex investments and withdrawal liability matters.
Serving as the principal outside attorneys advising on investments for Citigroup Inc.’s $13.5+ billion defined benefit pension plan and $20+ billion 401(k) plan.
Providing benefits advice to The Metropolitan Opera Association, one of the largest classical music organizations in North America, on issues pertaining to retirement plans, as well as health and welfare plans, including providing advice with respect to health care reform.

Lawyers

Leading associates

Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.

Katrina McCann

Proskauer Rose LLP

Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Seth Safra

Proskauer Rose LLP

Seth J. Safra is co-chair of Proskauer’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group. Described by clients as “extremely knowledgeable, practical, and strategic,” Seth advises clients on compensation and benefit programs. Seth’s experience covers a broad range of retirement plan designs, from traditional defined benefit to cash balance and floor-offset arrangements, ESOPs and 401(k) plans—often coordinating qualified and non-qualified arrangements. He also advises tax-exempt and governmental employers on 403(b) and 457 arrangements, as well as innovative new plan designs; and he advises on ERISA compliance for investments. On the health and welfare side, Seth helps employers provide benefits that are cost-effective and competitive. He advises on plan design, including consumer-driven health plans with HSAs, retiree medical, fringe benefits, and severance programs, ERISA preemption, and tax and other compliance issues, such as nondiscrimination and cafeteria plan rules. Seth also advises for-profit and non-profit employers, compensation committees, and boards on executive employment, deferred compensation, change in control, and equity and other incentive arrangements. In addition, he advises on compensation and benefits in corporate transactions. Seth represents clients before the Department of Labor, IRS and other government agencies.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.