David R. Johanson and Rachel J. Markun, Partners with Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP to Speak at KC’s Employee Stock Ownership Plans: Pros and Cons Live Webcast

New York, NY, May 15, 2015 --(PR.com)-- The Knowledge Group/The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series, the leading producer of regulatory focused webcasts, has announced today that David R. Johanson and Rachel J. Markun, Partners with Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP will speak at the Knowledge Congress’ webcast entitled: “Employee Stock Ownership Plans: Pros and Cons Live Webcast.” This event is scheduled for Monday, July 20, 2015 @ 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm (ET).

For further details, please visit:
http://theknowledgegroup.org/event_name/employee-stock-ownership-plans-pros-and-cons-live-webcast/

About David R. Johanson

David R. Johanson is Partner-in-Charge of the Napa office of Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP. He has offices in Napa, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York to cover his national client base. David has more than 20 partners, associates, and paralegals on his team at Hawkins Parnelll Thackston & Young LLP. David and his team assist clients in general corporate matters and in employee ownership, benefit, ERISA, and related business matters, with an emphasis on executive compensation, equity incentive plans, non-qualified deferred compensation, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), ESOP transactions, mergers and acquisitions (and related tax planning), and business succession and estate planning. David and his team have defended ERISA fiduciaries, plan sponsors, selling shareholders, and investment advisers in ERISA litigation matters involving ESOPs and business transactions in federal and state courts throughout the country in a wide range of controversies covering ERISA fiduciary responsibilities, ESOP valuation disputes, disclosure obligations, investment issues, non-competition disputes, and tax matters. David has extensive experience in negotiating ESOP, ERISA, and other issues with government regulatory agencies and in representing ERISA fiduciaries and members of Boards of Directors and officers in state and federal litigation throughout the country.

About Rachel J. Markun

Rachel J. Markun is a Partner in the Napa office of Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP. Rachel advises clients regarding the corporate, tax and fiduciary issues relating to ESOPs. She has represented ERISA plan fiduciaries, employers and institutions in connection with legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, ERISA, the federal securities laws, and the California laws. She has extensive tax expertise relating to tax-exempt entities and all aspects of retirement plan qualification matters as well as fiduciary and corporate governance matters. She represents retirement plan corporate sponsors in a variety of matters, including Internal Revenue Service audits and U.S. Department of Labor investigations. She counsels many ESOP companies and fiduciaries on a range of compliance, best practices and risk management issues, and with respect to various transaction matters.

About Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP

Over the last half century, Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP has grown to include more than 150 lawyers in nine offices located in Atlanta, Austin, Charleston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Napa, New York, St. Louis and San Francisco. HPTY attorneys represent some of America’s largest corporations, small local businesses and individual clients in high risk litigation and business disputes across the country. While trial success has always been a hallmark of the firm, our attorneys are well equipped to serve their clients’ interests to the best result possible. HPTY offers the resources and experience to tailor and execute the most well-informed defense for each of the firm’s clients in any jurisdiction whenever the need arises.

Event Synopsis:

More companies are considering employee stock ownership plans (ESOP) to liquefy accumulated equity without relinquishing control of the companies or jeopardizing the jobs of valued employees. The Knowledge Group is hosting a live webcast to help companies understand the Advantages and Disadvantages of an Employee Stock Ownership Plans in 2015.

In this two hour webinar, the panel of skilled practitioners will provide an overview of ESOP structuring, administration, the tax implications, accounting and disclosure issues, common misconceptions, and recent litigation risks due to changes in ESOP accounting rules and fair value disclosures. The agenda will include:

- ESOPs: Overview and Trends
- ESOP Vs. Other Retirement Plans
- Rulings: IRS PLRs, DOL Advisory Opinions & FABs, IRS TASM, and ESOP Cadre Guidance
- ESOP Advantages and Disadvantages
- Monetary Consequences: Employees and Companies
- Compliance and Monetary Risks for Participants
- Non-Compliance Sanctions for Employee Benefit Plan Rules
- Widely Held Misconceptions

About The Knowledge Group, LLC/The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series

The Knowledge Congress was established with the mission to produce unbiased, objective, and educational live webinars that examine industry trends and regulatory changes from a variety of different perspectives. The goal is to deliver a unique multilevel analysis of an important issue affecting business in a highly focused format. To contact or register for an event, please visit: http://theknowledgegroup.org/