Seattle partner Karrie Johnson Diaz counsels employers, including government entities
and nonprofit organizations, on employee benefits and executive compensation issues.
Karrie advises clients on all aspects of qualified retirement plans, including
401(k) plans, defined benefit pension plans, nonqualified plans, stock-based plans
and deferred compensation and other executive compensation arrangements, including
issues related to Section 409A deferred compensation rules. Karrie's practice
also includes advising clients on health and welfare plan matters, including
compliance and reporting issues related to the Affordable Care Act and COBRA.
She has broad experience in designing, drafting and implementing qualified defined
benefit and defined contribution retirement plans and nonqualified retirement and
deferred compensation plans, equity-based compensation programs, employment and
severance agreements, and health and welfare benefit plans. Karrie advises
employers, plan administrators and other plan fiduciaries on tax and ERISA
compliance, retirement and welfare plan design, administration and communication,
prohibited transaction issues and other fiduciary issues, and reporting and
disclosure requirements. She represents clients in connection with filings with the
Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation on employee benefit matters. In addition, Karrie regularly advises on
benefit and compensation aspects of mergers and acquisitions and regarding the
integration of plans and arrangements following the transaction.
