R. Michael Sanchez

Mike practices employee benefits and tax. He counsels his clients on planning and structuring employee benefits plans. Mike often serves as legal advisor to professional services entities and coordinates with other Taft attorneys to address these clients’ diverse legal needs.

• Provides comprehensive advice to clients in structuring and administering all types of employee benefit plans.
• Provides guidance to clients on compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
• Assists clients with the design and implementation of defined benefit and defined contribution plans, cash balance plans, employee stock ownership plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, welfare benefit plans, severance plans, and all types of incentive arrangements.
• Advises clients regarding employee benefit matters in connection with mergers and acquisitions.
• Advises clients of all sizes, including governmental employers and multi-employer plans.
• Represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Labor in connection with all aspects of their employee benefit programs, including with respect to audits and participation in various voluntary compliance correction programs.
• Consults with fiduciaries regarding compliance with their obligations under ERISA.
• Advises professional groups on entity selection, governance, entity agreements, and organizational matters.
• Negotiates employment and independent contractor contracts.