McCarter & English announced today the arrival of Tax & Employee Benefits partner Robert Kaplan in its Philadelphia office. Kaplan brings extensive experience in advising clients on employee benefit plans and executive compensation arrangements, including health and retirement plans.
“McCarter is home to a top-notch tax and benefits group with industry-leading attorneys like Mark Daniele, who provide clients with innovative solutions to their retirement and healthcare plans,” said Kaplan. “I look forward to working with my new colleagues.”
As an American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA) Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA) and Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA), Kaplan advises his clients on all aspects of their employee benefits plans, including the design, compliance, and operations of qualified retirement plans, health and welfare plans, and nonqualified plans. He regularly advises on IRS and DOL voluntary compliance programs and ERISA fiduciary rules and best practices. Additionally, he advises on executive compensation packages, including equity compensation plans, phantom stock arrangements, and nonqualified supplemental retirement plans.
“We could not be happier that Rob will be joining our team. He adds bandwidth across the entire spectrum of our employee benefits work from design to compliance to operations,” said Timothy M. Ferges, Chair of McCarter’s Tax, Employee Benefits, Trusts, Estates & Private Clients practice group. “With the uptick in transactions, his work with plans, and particularly executive compensation, is going to be in great demand.”
Kaplan counsels a broad client base, including public and private companies, boards of directors, fiduciary committees, and government entities across a number of sectors. In particular, he has substantial experience working with and advising church-affiliated pension and welfare plans on their employee benefits programs. These religiously affiliated benefits plans are not just subject to ERISA, but are subject to requirements under state law, which adds a layer of complexity and need for specialized guidance, as ERISA covered plans ordinarily receive broad preemption from state laws.
“We are very excited to welcome Rob to the firm, and know that our clients and colleagues will benefit from his guidance on issues relating to executive compensation and employee benefits,” said Joseph Boccassini, McCarter & English’s Firmwide Managing Partner. “Rob brings tremendous insight and experience, and will be an invaluable addition to our employee benefits practice as well as client service teams across the firm.”
Kaplan is an active thought leader and speaker in the Philadelphia employee benefits community. He is involved in the ASPPA Benefits Council of Greater Philadelphia, where he was recently president and previously served on its Board of Directors from 2013-2019. He is the past vice chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Employee Benefits Committee.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rob to McCarter. His knowledge and skillset significantly strengthen our expanding Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice and help us address the increasing demand for these services from our clients,” said Mark Daniele.
Kaplan earned his J.D. from Temple University School of Law, and earned his B.S. magna cum laude from Pennsylvania State University. Kaplan joins the firm from Cozen O’Connor, and was previously an associate at Ballard Spahr LLP. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.