Allison Itami advises employers and service providers on employee benefit programs, with a focus in federal laws such as ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code, and the ways in which state laws affect benefit plans. Allison works closely with service providers in the IRA and employer plan industry. These service providers include multi-national financial institutions, national and regional broker-dealers, banks, record-keepers, and insurance companies. Allison assists these financial institutions to comply with existing Department of Labor regulations and guidance in addition to providing advocacy regarding proposed regulations, advisory opinions, and individual prohibited transaction exemptions. Allison frequently works with state and municipal governmental units sponsoring and administering benefit plans and programs. She has worked with employers to draft, maintain, or terminate tax qualified retirement savings plans. From drafting policies to assisting with internal or Department of Labor audits, Allison has assisted plan fiduciaries with all manner of compliance processes. She often assists plan fiduciaries in performing legal due diligence on selecting a service provider or investing in an alternative investment option. Her practice also includes providing legal counsel on investment items including prudent process and considerations for investing and divesting.
Publications DOL Proposes a New Fiduciary Investment Advice Exemption Groom Benefits BriefJuly 2, 2020
Publications DOL Finalizes Safe Harbor Regulation for Retirement Plan Electronic Disclosures Groom Benefits BriefMay 29, 2020
Past Events Webinar: Benefits Plans and COVID-19 – Key Issues for Employers Related to Business Relief and Tax Provisions (April 23, 2020) COVID-19 Webinar SeriesApril 23, 2020
Publications New Lawsuit Alleges Fiduciary Breaches by Plan Sponsor and Recordkeeper for Quarter Million Dollar Cybertheft COVID-19 ResourceApril 16, 2020
Publications Supreme Court Vacates & Remands Plaintiff-Friendly Ruling in IBM “Stock Drop” Litigation Groom Benefits BriefJanuary 16, 2020
Publications New Regulation Best Interest FAQs Address Topics Familiar to DOL Fiduciary Rule Veterans Groom Benefits BriefJanuary 16, 2020
Publications New Guidance on the Territorial Scope of GDPR Impacts U.S. Benefit Plans Groom Benefits BriefNovember 21, 2019
Publications IRS Counsel Memo is Reminder That Employers May Not Currently Deduct Contributions of Their Own Debt Securities Groom Benefits BriefSeptember 5, 2019