ERISA & Employee Benefits Counsel

ERISA & Employee Benefits Counsel Description - Unique mastery and recognized authority on ERISA, employee benefits, fiduciary governance, and related tax and regulatory requirements. Contributes to the development of innovative legal principles, governance frameworks, and risk-management strategies. Successfully operates in HP's most complex employee benefits and fiduciary matters. Provides practical solutions to complex legal, regulatory, and business issues affecting HP's U.S. retirement, health and welfare, and other employee benefit programs. Advises cross-division, multi-function teams involving Legal, Total Rewards, Human Resources, Finance, Tax, Treasury and other stakeholders. Provides compliance guidance to lower-level employees and serves as a trusted advisor to senior management and fiduciary committees. Routinely exercises independent judgment in developing methods, techniques, and criteria for achieving business objectives. Develops strategy and sets functional policy and direction within area of expertise. Acts as a project manager and recognized subject matter expert but does not manage other employees as a primary job function. Responsibilities Acts as principal legal advisor to assigned internal clients, fiduciary committees, plan administrators, and other Legal team members with respect to ERISA, employee benefits, fiduciary governance, and related tax and regulatory matters. Provides strategic legal advice regarding the design, administration, governance, amendment, and termination of qualified retirement plans, including 401(k), pension, and other tax-qualified plans. Advises on ERISA fiduciary duties, prohibited transaction rules, plan asset considerations, fiduciary delegation, committee governance, investment-related matters, and the development and maintenance of prudent fiduciary processes. Provides legal counsel regarding health and welfare benefit plans, including ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, MHPAEA, and other applicable federal and state benefits requirements. Manages the development of legal strategies by providing specialized ERISA and employee benefits expertise on matters of strategic importance or having significant impact on financial exposure, employee programs, regulatory compliance, fiduciary risk, or corporate policy. Leads complex, multidimensional benefits projects and transactions by identifying and resolving highly complex legal, regulatory, fiduciary, tax, operational, and business issues requiring specialized knowledge and judgment. Advises on benefit plan implications of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, workforce transitions, and other corporate transactions, including due diligence, integration strategy, plan harmonization, and transition arrangements. Advises on plan qualification, correction, and compliance matters, including issues arising under the Internal Revenue Code, ERISA, IRS and Department of Labor guidance, and applicable correction programs. Counsels internal stakeholders regarding plan documents, amendments, summary plan descriptions, participant communications, administrative procedures, claims and appeals, and other plan-related documentation. Provides institutional knowledge, support, and fiduciary oversight in relation to corporate and local governance standards, committee charters, delegations of authority, policies, processes, documentation, and reporting requirements. Advises fiduciary committees and senior management regarding governance practices, fiduciary decision-making, conflicts of interest, vendor oversight, investment governance, and documentation of fiduciary processes. Partners with Human Resources, Total Rewards, Finance, Tax, Treasury, Payroll, Compliance, Internal Audit, Procurement, and external advisors to develop legally compliant and operationally effective employee benefit programs. Provides legal oversight regarding benefit plan audits, governmental inquiries, participant disputes, benefit claims, regulatory examinations, and matters involving the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, and other regulators. Monitors and evaluates legislative, regulatory, litigation, and enforcement developments affecting ERISA and employee benefits and develops strategies for implementing required changes across HP's benefit programs. Plans and facilitates training sessions with Legal team members, fiduciaries, plan administrators, Human Resources professionals, and other internal clients regarding fiduciary responsibilities, regulatory developments, governance expectations, and employee benefits compliance. Leads development of new ideas, governance models, processes, and methods to effectively address recurring or emerging ERISA, fiduciary, and employee benefits issues affecting multiple client organizations. Identifies opportunities to improve legal service delivery through standardized processes, technology, data analytics, automation, and appropriate use of artificial intelligence while maintaining appropriate legal and fiduciary controls. Acts as a functional expert within ERISA and employee benefits, assisting in developing enterprise strategy and setting functional policy and direction. Education and Experience Required Juris Doctor (J.D.) or equivalent law degree from an accredited law school. Active membership in good standing in at least one U.S. state bar. Typically has 10+ years of legal experience advising on ERISA, employee benefits, fiduciary governance, retirement plans, health and welfare benefits, and related tax matters in a major law firm, corporate legal department, or comparable environment. Demonstrated experience advising sophisticated employers, fiduciary committees, plan sponsors, or financial institutions on complex employee benefits matters. Preferred Certifications State Bar Membership. Significant ERISA and employee benefits experience at a nationally recognized law firm and/or large multination