Employee Benefits Attorney

About the company Our client is a law firm. The role Raydar is recruiting for this role on behalf of our client. Counsel employers on the creation, upkeep and regulatory compliance of retirement programs, with a focus on tax-qualified arrangements. Partner with corporate colleagues on the benefits side of deals and advise on senior-level pay structures. The position involves direct client contact and a route to equity partnership. What you'll do - Create and update retirement savings and pension arrangements for employer clients of many sizes. - Guide plan sponsors and fiduciary committees through everyday compliance, testing, corrective filings and government audits. - Roll out the requirements of new retirement legislation and track ongoing regulatory changes. - Work with deal teams on benefits due diligence, reviewing a target's programs, flagging exposure, negotiating contract protections and managing integration after closing. - Advise on deferred pay programs, senior-level pay packages, stock-based awards and separation terms. - Build relationships with institutional clients and support them through busy year-end periods. - Take part in a team-based practice that encourages cross-group work and helps junior lawyers grow. Requirements What we're looking for - Roughly 4 to 10 years of law firm practice in employee benefits, centered on retirement and ERISA matters. - Hands-on background in setting up, documenting and revising tax-qualified retirement programs. - Experience advising employers who sponsor benefit programs, or handling the benefits portion of corporate transactions. - Command of qualified plan compliance topics such as testing, corrections, audit response and adoption of new legislative requirements. - A JD from an accredited law school. - Admission to the New York bar, or eligibility and willingness to waive in. - Excellent drafting and written communication skills, producing plan documents, amendments, memos and client deliverables. - A collaborative, team-oriented style and a responsive, proactive approach to communication. - Residence in the region, or readiness to relocate there. Bonus points - Experience with benefits diligence and post-closing integration in mergers and acquisitions. - Background in deferred pay rules, employment agreements, severance and equity-based incentive programs. - A tax LL.M. or CPA credential. - Exposure to group health and welfare plan regulation. - Comfort working directly with clients. - Existing ties to upstate New York. Benefits Compensation and benefits - Base salary: USD 139,000 to 192,000 per year Location and work model - Rochester, Buffalo or Albany, New York, United States - Hybrid, approximately 50% in-office over the course of a year - Full-time