Matthew A. Secrist

Matthew focuses his practice on employee benefits and executive compensation matters. He is experienced in a wide range of employee benefits matters, including tax qualified retirement plans (401(k) plans, pension plans, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), etc.), nonqualified deferred compensation plans and arrangements, welfare benefit plans, COBRA, HIPAA, and Affordable Care Act issues. Matthew also advises clients regarding compliance with Internal Revenue Code Sections 280G and 409A. His executive compensation experience includes employee fringe benefit plans, stock option plans, supplemental executive retirement plans (SERPs), employment agreements, severance plans, and various other forms of incentive compensation arrangements.

Matthew regularly advises business owners in strategically transitioning ownership to employees either through the creation of an ESOP or employee ownership trust (EOT) or grants of ownership interests to key employees.

In addition to assisting employers with day-to-day employee benefits-related matters, Matthew has guided employers through cases where the employer participated in a distressed multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA) where a court appoints a receiver/independent fiduciary to oversee plan liquidation and payment of employee medical claims. Matthew also counsels clients on employee benefit matters in employer bankruptcies.

Speeches

• Presenter, “Redesigning Your ESOP,” Ohio Employee Ownership Center at Kent University, April 18, 2024.
• Speaker, “Key Executive Compensation Issues and Considerations Explored,” The Knowledge Group Webinar, Nov. 8, 2022.
• Panelist, “Fall of Roe and the Workplace,” Chicago Bar Association Labor & Employee Committee Webinar, Sept. 14, 2022.
• Speaker, “Golden Parachute Rules,” LexisNexis Video, Aug. 5, 2022.
• Panelist, “Building Great Teams with Stock Plans” Webinar, June 22, 2022.
• Featured Speaker, “Rust Belt Rundown” Podcast, Rust Belt Recruiting, June 9, 2022.

Publications

• Quoted, “State Abortion Laws Raise ERISA Preemption Questions,” Law360, Oct. 26, 2022
• Author, “Equity Incentive Compensation Plans for Start-Ups,” LexisNexis Practical Guidance Article, September 2022.
• Featured, “Offering benefits in a post-Dobbs world is complex decision,” Crain’s Cleveland Business, July 22, 2022.
• Author, “Dobbs Decision: Implications for Employer-Sponsored Group Health Plans,” Taft, June 30, 2022.
• Author, “Section 280 Due Diligence Information Request Template for LexisNexis Practical Guidance – Section 280G Resource Kit,” LexisNexis, May 2022.