Boutwell Fay LLP - Irvine, CA

Premier ERISA and Employee Benefits Counsel in Irvine, California

Operating from Irvine in Orange County, California, Boutwell Fay LLP is widely recognized as one of the nation foremost boutique law firms dedicated exclusively to employee benefits and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Established in 1998 by veteran employee benefits attorneys Sherrie Boutwell and Alison Fay, the firm has spent more than two decades guiding corporations, plan sponsors, non-profit organizations, and fiduciaries through the labyrinth of federal and state benefits regulations. Whether a growing corporation needs to hire an employee benefits lawyer to navigate complex statutory updates or an enterprise must find an ERISA attorney to defend against federal regulatory scrutiny, Boutwell Fay LLP offers the sophisticated insight of an international mega-firm paired with the dedicated responsiveness of an elite specialty boutique.

Specialized Practice Areas and Legal Solutions

As corporate workforces and compensation models evolve, maintaining full regulatory compliance while attracting top-tier executive talent requires proactive legal strategy. The attorneys at Boutwell Fay LLP provide end-to-end legal support covering every facet of benefits law and compensation planning:

• Qualified Retirement Plans: Designing, drafting, and administering defined contribution and pension plans, including 401(k), profit-sharing, 403(b), and 457(b) programs, while assisting sponsors with mandatory restatements, compliance testing, and QDROs.
• Executive Compensation and Non-Qualified Plans: Structuring executive retention packages, supplemental retirement plans (SERPs), phantom equity, and deferred compensation agreements compliant with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and Section 457(f).
• IRS, DOL, and PBGC Regulatory Defense: Defending plan sponsors during audits by the IRS, Department of Labor (EBSA), and PBGC, while resolving operational errors through the IRS Voluntary Correction Program (EPCRS) and DOL voluntary correction.
• Health and Welfare Benefit Plans: Advising employers on cafeteria plans under Section 125, group health insurance frameworks, COBRA administration, HIPAA privacy rules, and ACA employer mandate compliance.
• Mergers and Transactional Due Diligence: Conducting employee benefits due diligence during corporate mergers and asset purchases, addressing unfunded liabilities, and executing post-closing plan consolidations.
• Fiduciary Governance and Contract Review: Drafting committee charters, negotiating third-party administrator (TPA) contracts, reviewing fee disclosures, and advising corporate boards on ERISA fiduciary standards.

Strategic Value for Plan Sponsors and Employers

Navigating employee benefit regulations requires far more than generic corporate advice. An unnoticed administrative defect or delayed plan amendment can trigger substantial excise taxes, disqualification risks, or costly litigation. Boutwell Fay LLP maintains an active nationwide federal practice, enabling multi-state employers to centralize their ERISA legal needs under one roof. As a certified member of the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), the practice champions diverse leadership while consistently securing top rankings in Best Lawyers in America. Rather than relying on oversized teams with heavy overhead, Boutwell Fay LLP provides direct partner involvement, transparent fee structures, and actionable guidance tailored to business realities.

Consult an Irvine Employee Benefits Attorney

Whether you require proactive guidance to restate a company retirement plan, need a contract lawyer to draft executive employment covenants, or seek trusted counsel for an impending Department of Labor inquiry, Boutwell Fay LLP delivers decisive legal representation. Businesses and plan fiduciaries can contact the firm Irvine office on MacArthur Boulevard to schedule a strategic consultation and safeguard their benefit programs.