Jackson Lewis P.C., one of the country’s preeminent workplace law firms, is pleased to announce Craig A. Day has joined the firm’s Seattle office as a principal. Craig has almost 30 years of experience advising clients on a wide range of complex employee benefits matters. Day comes to the firm from Lane Powell PC, where he was counsel.

Craig frequently counsels clients on tax-qualified and nonqualified retirement plans such as ESOPs, pensions and 401(k) plans. He also advises on executive compensation and health and welfare plan issues, including COBRA, the ACA and HIPAA.

“We are thrilled Craig decided to join the firm,” said Jackson Lewis principal and leader of the firm’s Employee Benefits practice Joy M. Napier-Joyce. “Craig has an impressive background and a practical approach to benefits that we know will be of great value to our clients; his arrival immediately strengthens our team’s capabilities in the Northwest.”

Craig’s experience with qualified plans includes drafting and advising clients on a variety of retirement plans, including 401(k), pension, profit sharing, money purchase and cash balance plans, and ESOPs. He regularly updates plans for changes in the law, manages IRS and DOL audits, provides fiduciary training and corrects errors using agency correction programs. His experience also includes 403(b) and 457 plans sponsored by tax-exempt organizations and self-directed IRAs.

Additionally, Craig helps clients design and administer executive compensation plans that comply with Internal Revenue Code Sections 409A, 162(m), 280G and FICA taxation regulations. He regularly drafts or reviews employment agreements, change in control agreements, severance agreements or plans, deferred compensation plans (defined contribution and defined benefit), phantom stock plans, and equity plans and awards (stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance units). He assists clients with agency audits and helps correct 409A violations.

Craig’s transactional experience includes helping buyers and sellers with employee benefits due diligence, negotiations over assumed liabilities for pension and multiemployer plans, and ERISA representations and warranties in connection with lending transactions.

“Craig has spent time as a consultant, in the private sector and as in-house counsel, making him a valuable resource to the firm” said Seattle office managing principal Bryan P. O’Connor. “Additionally, his experience serving employers across an array of industries is invaluable and a strong complement to our growing Seattle office.”

Craig earned his J.D. and B.A. from the University of Washington.