Overview
Jimmy counsels clients on all aspects of employee benefits compliance related to qualified plans, including pension (both traditional and cash balance), 401(k) plans, ESOPs (leveraged and non-leveraged), 403(b) plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans, split dollar life insurance agreements, severance plans, and welfare benefit plans. He also counsels clients on a full range of equity compensation issues, including stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, and phantom equity.
With over 27 years of experience, Jimmy regularly designs and negotiates executive compensation packages and advises clients on the tax law requirements associated with executive compensation, such as 409A. In addition, Jimmy has extensive experience with the tax rules (457(f) and 457(b)) applicable to deferred compensation arrangements of tax-exempt and governmental organizations such as tax-exempt hospitals and state universities. This unique experience allows him to help these clients in the design and implementation of retirement arrangements for their key executives and employees.
Additionally, Jimmy advises clients on all facets of employee benefit and executive compensation issues in connection with M&A transactions, ranging from negotiating the benefits and executive compensation-related provisions in the transaction to 280G compliance and post-transaction integration matters.
Jimmy is a Shareholder in the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice at Maynard Nexsen. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America© in the area of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, and was recognized as the Best Lawyers 2019 "Lawyer of the Year" in Employee Benefits (ERISA) law.
Prior to law school, he worked as a tax consultant for Deloitte and was a certified public accountant. He received his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1998 and holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (1993).
Community & Professional
- Alabama Profit Sharing Council
Recognitions
Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America© for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (2010 - present)
- Best Lawyers® 2019 "Lawyer of the Year" in the area of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- Alabama Super Lawyers (2009)