Over 19 years as an ERISA attorney who counsels business owners with developing succession plans for their businesses so that the owners leave a proud legacy. My primary focus in this regard is guiding business owners to transitioning their businesses to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). More generally, I help companies design and implement retirement and incentive compensation plans that facilitate both the employees and business owners think in terms of growing the business while preparing them for retirement. Typical projects include:1. Design and implementation of ESOPs, from pre-transaction feasibility analysis to closing.2. Developing qualified retirement plans, including cash balance plans, that achieve the business owner's strategic goals and maximize participation of employees.3. Fiduciary counseling to 401(k), 403(b) and other ERISA-plan sponsors.4. Strategically designing stock option and other phantom equity plans to align the interests of key employees to those of business owners.5. Creating nonqualified deferred compensation plans for key employees.6. Negotiating employment, severance, and change in control agreements for employers and employees.7. Counseling and strategic planning on employee benefit and executive compensation issues in M&A transactions.8. Resolving DOL and IRS regulatory compliance matters for ERISA and nonqualified plans.In the community, I am a proud member of the Kiwanis Club of Columbus, an organization that supports other non-profits in their efforts to serve children and reduce infant mortality.