ESOP Compliance Attorney (Employee Benefits)
Direct CounselDetroit, Michigan, United States
Posted September 4, 2025
225000 - 350000 USD year
Full Time
About the Company
Direct Counsel is a full-service legal staffing and recruiting firm that specializes in both temporary and permanent placements across the United States. Leveraging deep local market knowledge, the company excels at sourcing, retaining, and deploying top-tier attorneys, paralegals, legal secretaries, and administrative professionals on short-term, long-term, and direct-hire engagements. Its comprehensive suite of services—including specialized searches, talent building, and legal assistance—ensures clients receive highly qualified legal talent tailored to their specific needs. Direct Counsel’s distinctive advantage lies in its proven ability to quickly match clients with the right professionals, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and legal team performance.
Job Description
Direct Counsel is seeking an experienced employee benefits attorney with expertise in ESOPs, ERISA, and IRS requirements for 401(k) plans and ESOPs. The ideal candidate will have a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and excellent communication skills.
Requirements
- Expertise in employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs)
- Experience counseling employee benefit plan sponsors with respect to ERISA and IRS requirements for 401(k) plans and ESOPs
- Experience in negotiating and drafting executive employment agreements and incentive plans on behalf of employers and executives
- Knowledge of employee benefits issues in the context of corporate mergers and acquisitions
- Experience reviewing merger and acquisition agreements for purposes of ERISA review
- Ability to advise clients regarding compliance with Internal Revenue Code Sections 280G and 409A
- Exceptional work ethic, attention to detail, initiative, and motivation
- Ability to thrive in a team environment
- Strong academic credentials
- Minimum 5 years of employee benefits experience
- Licensed to practice law in Michigan
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
- Detail-oriented with a strong work ethic
- Client-facing experience and responsiveness to client needs
Benefits
- Comprehensive health insurance (with optional HSA/FSA)
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Short-term disability
- Long-term disability
- 401(k)
- Vacation
- Sick time
- Parking/public transportation allowance
- Employee assistance program