Photo of Melanie M. Lazor

 

 

Melanie is an associate in the Business Litigation practice group.  She focuses her practice on commercial litigation, including breach of contract disputes and ERISA litigation.

 

Employee stock ownership plans (“ESOPs”) are a valuable tool for businesses to create a succession plan and provide retirement benefits to employees by having employees purchase employer stock. Although self-interested transactions are generally prohibited under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), ESOPs are encouraged under ERISA despite the fact that the plans

You are working hard to administer your benefit plan in accordance with all the requirements of ERISA and the Code when you receive a written request for “a copy of the bargaining agreement, trust agreement, contract or other instrument under which the plan is established or operated.” This language is directly from Section 104(b)(4) of