Justin Alex
Senior Counsel
Justin S. Alex is a senior counsel and a member of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group.
Justin advises private and public companies on all aspects of their employee benefits and executive compensation arrangements and plans, including the treatment of such arrangements and plans in corporate financings and transactions.
In addition to Justin's general benefits and compensation practice, he spends a significant portion of his time advising employers and financial sponsors with respect to underfunded single-employer and multiemployer pension plans. As part of this practice, Justin often works hand-in-hand with Proskauer's labor and restructuring lawyers to find innovative and practical methods for clients to manage pension liabilities.
Prior to joining Proskauer, Justin was a lawyer in the Office of Chief Counsel at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), where he gained significant experience with pension termination and underfunding issues. He also represented the PBGC in corporate bankruptcies and federal court litigation.
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In late September, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the “PBGC”) published Press Release 20-04 and issued Technical Update 20-2 providing flexibility in the calculation of variable-rate premiums for plan sponsors who take advantage of extended pension contribution deadlines for 2020—even in certain circumstances where the plan sponsor has already completed its PBGC premium filing. The … Continue Reading
On April 10, 2020, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the “PBGC”) announced that deadlines for upcoming premium payments and certain other required filings due from April 1, 2020 through July 14, 2020 will be extended to July 15, 2020 as further described below. The PBGC’s announcement came a day after the Internal Revenue Service (the … Continue Reading
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals recently issued a withdrawal liability decision of which both multiemployer pension plans and their contributing employers should be aware. Specifically, in National Retirement Fund v. Metz Culinary Management, Inc., No. 17-1211, 2020 WL 20524 (Jan. 2, 2020), the Second Circuit held that the interest rate used to calculate an … Continue Reading
Beginning January 1, 2020, the American Arbitration Association (AAA) will: (i) reduce filing fees charged to parties initiating arbitrations of withdrawal liability disputes; (ii) change how costs of arbitrations are allocated among the parties to the disputes; and (iii) amend the process for resolving arbitrator selection disputes. The new filing fees are modest in comparison … Continue Reading
Last Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled that two co-investing Sun Capital private equity funds (the Sun Funds)[1] had not created an implied “partnership-in-fact” for purposes of determining whether the Sun Funds were under “common control” with their portfolio company, Scott Brass, Inc. (SBI) – resulting in a ruling that … Continue Reading
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the “PBGC”) launched a Pilot Mediation Project in October 2017 to provide plan sponsors an opportunity to negotiate resolutions in Early Warning Program cases and in termination liability cases (see our prior post). Following its trial run, the PBGC announced last month that it would make the Mediation Program permanent, … Continue Reading
The House Committee on Ways and Means publicly released a working draft of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for the first time on Thursday. In the weeks leading up to the release of the draft, speculation has swirled as to whether it would eliminate or otherwise limit the ability to make pre-tax employee deferrals … Continue Reading
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the “PBGC”) launched a new Pilot Mediation Project to facilitate negotiations with (i) plan sponsors involved in corporate transactions under the purview of the PBGC’s Early Warning Program and (ii) the former plan sponsors of terminated pension plans that are subject to termination liability for the plans’ unfunded benefit liabilities.… Continue Reading
As we have previously reported (see here and here), bills to expand the scope of Section 162(m) and/or to narrow or eliminate the exceptions under Section 162(m) have been proposed in recent years, but have not become law. Recently, a new coalition named “Take On Wall Street” that is comprised of lawmakers (including Senator Elizabeth … Continue Reading
As we previously reported, in Sun Capital, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit held in 2013 that a private investment fund, pursuant to the so-called “investment plus” test first articulated by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the PBGC), was engaged in a “trade or business” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act … Continue Reading
As of December 22, 2015, IRS Notice 2016-02 supersedes certain information in this blog entry. On July 6, 2015, President Obama signed the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015. Among other things, the Trade Act retroactively reinstated the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC), which had previously expired on January 1, 2014, and extended its availability … Continue Reading
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the “PBGC”) recently finalized its premium filing requirements for 2015. In addition to higher premium rates and other more minor changes, plan sponsors are now required to report information about the number of former employees involved in certain risk transfer activities (i.e., annuity purchases and lump sum windows) that occurred … Continue Reading
The PBGC has recently initiated efforts to enhance retirement security for Americans by promoting lifetime income options (i.e., annuitized benefits). As part of these efforts, as well as those of the IRS and U.S. Department of Labor, the PBGC issued final regulations regarding the treatment of rollovers from defined contribution plans to defined benefit plans … Continue Reading
Pension plan overpayments to participants and their beneficiaries are an all-too-common occurrence. When overpayments occur, a plan administrator’s duties are fairly clear. Typically, the plan administrator must seek repayment of the overpayment, plus interest, from the affected individuals, and if recovery from the individuals cannot be completed, recovery must be sought from the employer or … Continue Reading
On February 26, 2014, U.S. Congressman Dave Camp released a comprehensive tax reform proposal that includes several provisions intended to limit or restrict executive compensation. Congressman Camp’s proposal includes the elimination of tax deductions for commission payments and qualified performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); … Continue Reading
The PBGC finalized a proposed rule that changes the flat-rate premium due date for large plans to the same as their variable-rate due date, which is 9.5 calendar months after the beginning of the premium payment year (October 15th for calendar-year plans), effective as of the 2014 plan year. Large plans are plans that had … Continue Reading
In Adams v. General Motors Company (Case No. 12-2084), the Sixth Circuit rejected an ineligible retiree’s claim for reinstatement of erroneous benefit payments under her former employer’s pension plan. The retiree received benefit payments for twenty-one months before the plan administrator realized that she was ineligible for benefits under the plan and ceased further benefit … Continue Reading
As we previously noted (https://www.erisapracticecenter.com/2013/04/28/pbgc-seeks-involuntary-plan-termination-before-plan-sponsors-proposed-share-sale/), the PBGC filed a complaint (E.D. Pa. Case No. 13-02069) to involuntarily terminate a defined benefit plan prior to a corporate transaction that would change the plan sponsor’s controlled group. The PBGC claimed that the plan sponsor, Saint-Gobain Containers, Inc., would join a financially weaker controlled group after it is … Continue Reading
In early August, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Richard Blumenthal introduced the “Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act” (S. 1476) in the U.S. Senate. The proposed bill would significantly expand the scope of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. Section 162(m) currently limits the deductibility of compensation paid in excess of $1 million … Continue Reading
On July 24, 2013, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled in Sun Capital Partners III, LP v. New England Teamsters and Trucking Industry Pension Fund (No. 12-2312, 2013 WL 3814984) that a private equity investment fund was engaged in a “trade or business” under ERISA, and, therefore, could be part of … Continue Reading
This article highlights some recent developments that employers with Puerto Rico employee benefits arrangements should consider concerning compliance with U.S. federal laws on health care reform and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“ACA”), fiduciary duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”) coverage issues. … Continue Reading
ERISA section 4062(e) addresses situations in which an employer ceases operations at a facility in any location and, as a result, separates more than 20% of its employees who participate in the employer’s defined benefit plan. If a 4062(e) event occurs, the employer is subject to a liability that equals the plan’s unfunded benefit liabilities … Continue Reading
On April 18, 2013, PBGC filed a complaint (PBGC v. Saint-Gobain Corp. Benefits Comm., E.D. Pa. Case No. 13-02069) to involuntarily terminate a defined benefit plan sponsored by Saint-Gobain Containers, Inc. before Ardagh Group, S.A. acquires Saint-Gobain through a share purchase. PBGC alleges that the plan is underfunded by approximately $523.7 million and that the … Continue Reading
The status of PBGC coverage for Puerto Rico defined benefit plans is one that has been the subject of review and analysis by the PBGC for quite some time. Most recently, on April 19, 2013, the PBGC withdrew two older opinion letters (Opinion Letters 77-172 and 85-19), which addressed whether defined benefit plans established and … Continue Reading
PBGC Provides Temporary Flexibility for Variable-Rate Premium Calculations
By Justin Alex and Malerie Bulot on Posted in Coronavirus, PBGC
PBGC Announces COVID-19 Extensions for Premium Payments and Other Filing Deadlines
By Justin Alex and Annie (Chenxiaoyang) Zhang on Posted in Coronavirus
Second Circuit Prohibits Retroactive Changes to Withdrawal Liability Interest Rate Assumptions
By Anthony Cacace, Justin Alex and Neil V. Shah on Posted in Withdrawal Liability
PBGC Adopts AAA’s Amended Withdrawal Liability Arbitration Rules
By Anthony Cacace, Justin Alex and Benjamin Flaxenburg on Posted in Withdrawal Liability
Sun Capital Update: First Circuit Reverses District Court’s “Partnership-in-Fact” Holding and Finds Private Equity Funds Not Part of Controlled Group and Not Liable for Portfolio Company’s Pension Liabilities
By Ira G. Bogner, Ira Golub, Justin Alex, Adam Scoll and Jennifer Rigterink on Posted in Controlled Groups, Withdrawal Liability
Let’s Talk – PBGC Pilot Mediation Project is Now Permanent
By Justin Alex and Annie (Chenxiaoyang) Zhang on Posted in PBGC
Tax Reform Contemplates Changes to Employee Benefits
By Damian A. Myers and Justin Alex on Posted in Tax Reform
New PBGC-Plan Sponsor Pilot Mediation Project for Early Warning Program and Termination Liability Cases
By Justin Alex on Posted in PBGC
Senator Warren Leads Coalition to Expand Scope of Limitations on Executive Compensation Tax Deductions
By Joshua Miller and Justin Alex on Posted in Executive Compensation
Sun Capital Court Finds Co-Investing Funds Part of Controlled Group and Liable for Portfolio Company’s Pension Liabilities
By Ira G. Bogner, Colleen Hart and Justin Alex on Posted in Controlled Groups, PBGC, Withdrawal Liability
Trade Act Reinstates Expired Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC)
By Paul M. Hamburger and Justin Alex on Posted in Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC)
2015 PBGC Premium Filings Must Include Risk Transfer Disclosures
By Justin Alex on Posted in PBGC
PBGC Issues Final Regulations Regarding Rollovers from Defined Contribution Plans to Pension Plans
By Justin Alex on Posted in PBGC
Righting a Wrong: The “Claim of Right” Doctrine and Other Tax Considerations for the Repayment of Pension Plan Overpayments
By Justin Alex on Posted in Articles, Uncategorized
Tax Reform Proposal Takes Aim at Executive Compensation
By Justin Alex and Joshua Miller on Posted in Executive Compensation
The PBGC Changes Flat-Rate Premium Due Date for Large Plans
By Justin Alex on Posted in PBGC
Sixth Circuit Rejects Claim for Reinstatement of Erroneous Benefit Payments to Ineligible Retiree
By Justin Alex on Posted in Overpayment of Benefits
The PBGC Not Entitled to Administrative Deference for Involuntary Plan Termination
By Justin Alex on Posted in PBGC
Proposed Legislation Threatens Executive Compensation Tax Deductions
By Justin Alex and Joshua Miller on Posted in Executive Compensation
Private Investment Funds May Be Liable For Portfolio Company’s Underfunded Pension Liabilities Under First Circuit Ruling
By Ira G. Bogner, Ira Golub, Adam Scoll and Justin Alex on Posted in Controlled Groups, Multiemployer Funds, Withdrawal Liability
Benefit Issues in Puerto Rico: Impact of the ACA, ERISA and the PBGC
By Justin Alex on Posted in Affordable Care Act
PBGC Releases 4062(e) Enforcement Guidelines
By Justin Alex on Posted in PBGC
PBGC Seeks Involuntary Plan Termination before Plan Sponsor’s Proposed Share Sale
By Justin Alex on Posted in Articles, PBGC
PBGC Withdraws Two Territorial Coverage Opinion Letters Impacting Puerto Rican Plans
By Justin Alex on Posted in PBGC
