Overview

Michelle McCarthy advises clients of all types – from tax-exempt organizations to Fortune 100 companies – regarding every facet of employee benefits law, including the design, structure, implementation, regulatory compliance, administration and termination of all types of retirement, executive compensation and health and welfare benefit plans. Michelle advises clients from a variety of different industries on compliance with the applicable state and federal requirements governing employee benefits and compensation arrangements. Her broad experience in the employee benefits area includes, among other things, the representation of clients in collective bargaining, litigation, restructuring, as well as mergers and acquisitions.

Michelle has had a strong focus on multiemployer plans throughout her career, advising boards of trustees on multiemployer plan governance, administration and compliance issues. She also advises contributing employers regarding their participation in multiemployer health and pension plans and provides corporate transaction support on multiemployer plan issues, including potential withdrawal liability.

Specific to qualified retirement plans, Michelle’s work with clients includes both defined contribution and defined benefit plans, including cash balance plans. She has represented numerous clients in matters involving the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), US Department of Labor (DOL) and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) – including issues related to IRS and DOL voluntary correction programs, IRS private letter rulings and PBGC issues involving ERISA Section 4062(e).

Michelle also counsels clients on all aspects of health and welfare plans, working with clients to comply with the complicated and ever-changing requirements under the IRC, ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, MHPAEA, GINA and state and local laws.

Michelle also guides clients on matters pertaining to the design, taxation and accounting of cash-based and equity incentive plans, nonqualified deferred compensation, trends in compensation practices and tax-efficient pay strategies.

Insights

Publications

  • Considerations for Employers and Employer Plan Sponsors Related to Potential Changes in the Effect of Roe v. Wade
    05.06.2022 | LawFlash
  • A Survival Guide to DOL Group Health Plan Mental Health Parity Audits
    10.22.2021
  • IRS FAQs: A Potential Shield for Taxpayers—Not a Sword for the Service
    10.20.2021
  • Relaxed IRS Self-Correction Rules a Boon for Plan Sponsors—and an Opportunity to Correct Failures Now, Practical Guidance
    08.24.2021
  • Relaxed IRS Self-Correction Rules a Boon for Plan Sponsors—and an Opportunity to Correct Failures Now
    07.28.2021
  • Employers May Continue to Defer Payroll Taxes Even After Paycheck Protection Loan Forgiveness
    06.10.2020
  • Insight: 100 Payroll Tax and Fringe Benefit Questions for the IRS on COVID-19 Measures
    04.17.2020 | Bloomberg Law
  • COVID-19 Measures: 100 Payroll Tax and Fringe Benefits Questions for the IRS
    04.17.2020
  • COVID-19: LA City Council Approves Ordinances on Sick Leave and Retail and Delivery Workers 
    03.21.2020
  • HIPAA Privacy Rule Still Applies for Employers Amid 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak
    02.28.2020

Speaking Engagements

  • Technology Industry Employers Roundtable 2022
    05.18.2022 - 05.20.2022
  • Attorney Misconduct Case Studies
    International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Annual Conference 2021
    10.19.2021
  • Technology Industry Employers Roundtable 2021
    05.19.2021
  • ERISA Litigation Virtual Roundtable: For Plan Sponsors
    10.20.2020
  • Responding to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus: Top-of-Mind Employee Benefits Questions for Employers
    03.23.2020
  • Hot Topics in Employee Benefits: What We're Seeing
    03.19.2020
  • Responding to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus: Top-of-Mind Questions for Employers
    03.12.2020
  • Employee Benefits 2020 – Hot Topics and Trends
    11.21.2019
  • International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans – Health Plan Mergers
    11.11.2019

News

Organizations

Community & Professional

State Bar of California, Compensation and Benefits Committee, Chair

Taxation Section, American Bar Association, Member

Women's Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Member

Free Arts for Abused Children, Director

Honors

Honors & Recognitions

Recognized in Best Lawyers in America, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Los Angeles, 2020

Education

Admissions

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