Fund Administration & Operations

Read More Douglas K. Knight
Douglas K. Knight
Read More Kaitlyn S. Lagassey
Kaitlyn S. Lagassey
Whether it is a vesting or eligibility issue, an inquiry about a contract or providing practical advice about fund operations, numerous questions arise in the day-to-day operations of a multiemployer benefit plan. Our practice has been responding to these questions for over 50 years, and here is a representative listing of some of the work we perform:

Fund Office Focus
  • Assisting the fund administrative office with all operational matters, such as benefit and eligibility issues, claims and appeals, and normal communications with the fund’s covered individuals and other related parties.
  • Analyzing legal documentation received by the fund, such as subpoenas, state income withholding orders and liens, and IRS levies.
  • Legal determinations involving Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs) and Qualified Medical Child Support Orders (QMCSOs).
  • Assisting the fund’s chief executive officer with all day-to-day employment issues with fund staff.
  • Advising the fund’s staff as to other matters which affect the operation of the Plan/Trust, including generally applicable state law compliance issues.
Trustee Focus
  • Providing legal reports and advice to the trustees, and providing assistance in implementing their decisions, such as preparing Plan and/or Trust amendments, and advising the trustees of a multiemployer defined benefit plan of their responsibilities under the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014 (MPRA).
  • Preparing applicable procedures and policies for the Plan/Trust, including employee handbooks, audit, delinquency and collection procedures for contributing employers, and educational conference expense/travel policies for trustees and designated fund employees.
  • Documenting and negotiating relationships with other professional service providers, including consultants, actuaries and collection counsel.
  • Negotiation of office leases, computer contracts and employment contracts.
  • The preparation and amendment of nonqualified deferred compensation plans/rabbi trusts.
  • Preparing disclosure materials, such as a Summary Plan Description (SPD) or a Summary of Material Modifications (SMM), to participants and beneficiaries, contributing employers, employee representatives, governmental agencies and other entities.
Read More Douglas K. Knight
Douglas K. Knight
Read More Kaitlyn S. Lagassey
Kaitlyn S. Lagassey