Liz Deckman > Seyfarth Shaw LLP > Seattle, United States > Lawyer Profile
Seyfarth Shaw LLP Offices
999 Third Avenue
Suite 4700
Seattle, WA 98104-4041
WASHINGTON
United States
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Liz Deckman
Work Department
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Position
Partner
Career
Liz has extensive business law experience, with a focus in advising companies regarding employee benefits and ERISA.
Liz has designed and implemented all types of tax-qualified retirement plans and trusts, including Section 401(k), profit sharing, money purchase, cash balance, and defined benefit plans. Liz also drafts and implements health and welfare plans and advises employers on related issues, such as COBRA, health care reform, and fiduciary issues. She also works with deferred compensation and IRC Section 409A.
Liz’s work covers issues such as: the effect of new laws on plans, nondiscriminatory coverage and contribution requirements, limitations on benefits, plan defect-correction programs, plan terminations, and early-retirement window benefits. She also assists clients in the employee benefits aspects of mergers and acquisitions.
Memberships
- Seattle SHRM, member (2021-present)
- Western Pension & Benefits Council (chair of Spring Seminar, 2013; secretary, 2013-2014; president-elect, 2014-2015; president, Seattle Chapter, 2015-2017; past president, Seattle Chapter, 2017-2018; Governing Board, president-elect, 2018-2019; president, 2019-2020; immediate past president, 2020-2021; board of directors, 2011-present)
Education
- JD, University of Wisconsin Law School
Fulbright Scholar - BA, Lawrence University
Magna cum laude
Phi Beta Kappa
Lawyer Rankings
United States > Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design
Seyfarth Shaw LLP has particular expertise in handling ongoing employee benefits needs, handling the design and implementation of such plans and agreements. The firm is consistently involved in retirement plan design, handling issues such as the legislative compliance of plans, as well as health and welfare plan design. The firm represents large and well-known businesses engaged in notable industries, such as manufacturing, retail, health care, insurance and financial services. Based in the firm’s Chicago office, ‘valued and trusted advisor’ Diane Dygert has deep experience regarding the rules and regulations surrounding employee benefits, alongside considerable expertise in regard to the health and welfare space. Also based in Chicago is Jennifer Kraft, who advises clients on retirement and benefit plans, and ‘standout’ Jon Karelitz, who is experienced in executive compensation matters, as well as cutting-edge pension de-risking projects. Seattle-based Liz Deckman plays an important role in building the employee benefits capabilities for the firm on the West Coast.
Lawyer Rankings
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Real estate > Construction (including construction litigation)
- Labor and employment > Immigration
- Labor and employment > Labor-management relations
- M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m)
- Labor and employment > Workplace and employment counseling
Firm Rankings
- Dispute resolution > E-discovery
- Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design
- Labor and employment > ERISA litigation
- Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions)
- Tax > Not-for-profit (nonprofit and tax exempt organizations)
- Intellectual property > Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters)
- Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)
- Government > Government contracts
- Real estate > Real estate
- Industry focus > Cannabis
- Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco)
- Real estate > Real estate finance
- Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
- Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital)
- Tax > US taxes: non-contentious