Michael E. Pietzsch

Arizona

Pietzsch Law Group, PA
2390 E. Camelback Rd.
Suite 130
Phoenix, AZ 85016

Tel: 602-604-6250

Email: pietzsch@usbenefitslaw.com
Web: www.usbenefitslaw.com

Professional Biography

Mike Pietzsch has been practicing in the areas of employee benefits, executive compensation, corporations, corporate taxation and government affairs since 1974. During his more than thirty years in practice, Mike founded the firm’s predecessor practice, one of the first in the nation focusing primarily on employee benefit and executive compensation matters, and serves a diverse client base including employers from a wide array of industries and professions, including many Fortune 500 companies.

He has been actively involved as an advocate for sound retirement and compensation policies, and has testified before Congressional committees and various federal agencies regarding proposed legislation and regulations. Mike served as a delegate to the White House Conference on Savings and Benefits in 1998 and the White House Conference on Small Business in 1986, is a frequent lecturer for ALI-ABA, PLI, and numerous other professional and business organizations, and has written numerous articles for professional journals and associations.

He is a fellow of the American College of Benefits Counsel, the American College of Tax Counsel and the American Tax Policy Institute. He was Chairman of the Stanford Club of Arizona and the Arizona Science Center, and Committee Chair for multiple Committees in the American Bar Association, Tax and Business Sections, and has been a director and/or officer of numerous other professional and civic organizations.

Mike has been selecte by his peers to be recognized in Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and the Bar Registry at Preeminent Lawyers.

Professional and Community Activities:

  • Fellow, American College of Employee Benefits Counsel
  • Fellow, American College of Tax Counsel
  • Member and Former Committee Chair, American Bar Association
  • Member, Arizona Bar Association
  • Member, Illinois Bar Association
  • Member, International Employee Benefits Association
  • Member, American Benefits Association
  • Member, Western Pension & Benefits Conference
  • Member, American Compensation Association

Education:

  • Bachelor of Arts, With Honors, Stanford University, 1971
  • Juris Doctor, University of Chicago, 1974

Pietzsch Law Group, P.A. represents a broad spectrum of small, medium and large businesses (private, public and non-profit), and counsels these employers on a wide variety of employee benefit plan and executive compensation issues, including:

Qualified Retirement Plans: We advise employers regarding the design, implementation, and administration of tax-qualified retirement plans. This includes drafting plans, summary plan descriptions, and related documents, and preparing and submitting Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) determination letter requests. We provide advice and counsel concerning issues arising in the ongoing administration and operation of plans, including correction of plan and operational errors under the IRS and Department of Labor (“DOL”) correction programs. We also advise employers in connection with audits and investigations conducted by the IRS, DOL, and Pension Benefits Guaranty Corporation.

Welfare Benefit Plans: We advise employers regarding ERISA welfare benefit plans, such as health, dental, vision, and severance plans. We assist employers in connection with audits and investigations conducted by the IRS and DOL, including DOL audits involving the use of demutualization proceeds.

Executive Compensation Arrangements: We assist employers in the design and implementation cash and equity-based executive compensation arrangements, including incentive bonus plans, equity-based plans, deferred compensation plans, supplemental executive retirement programs, severance plans and executive employment agreements, and we provide ongoing counsel to employers and their boards of directors. We also provide counsel with regard to executive compensation disclosure in proxy statements and other reports.

Mergers and Acquisitions: We counsel and assist employers regarding employee benefit plan and executive compensation issues in mergers and acquisitions, including due diligence and representation and warranty issues, plan mergers, spin-offs and terminations, compliance and reporting issues, and related matters.