Sarah Downie, of Counsel in Orrick's New York office, is a member of the Compensation and Benefits Group.
Plan Investment: Ms. Downie has broad experience in the area of ERISA fiduciary responsibilities and obligations and the ERISA implications of various plan investments and investment formats. This experience is the product of representing plan sponsors, plan asset managers, broker-dealers, and investment bankers who provide services or investment products to employee benefit plans, including plans subject to ERISA, government and other public pension plans, and individual retirement accounts. Ms. Downie has structured investment vehicles to attract ERISA investors and counseled and negotiated on behalf of ERISA investors and public pension plan investors with respect to participation in such vehicles.
Prohibited Transactions: Ms. Downie frequently deals with the Employee Benefits Security Administration in the U.S. Department of Labor and has prepared numerous submissions to the Department of Labor including prohibited transaction exemption applications. Ms. Downie advises clients on compliance with Department of Labor exemptions, such as the "underwriter's exemption" in connection with ERISA investment in structured finance products, and the QPAM and INHAM Class Exemptions.
Executive Compensation, Qualified and Nonqualified Plans: Ms. Downie advises plan sponsors, employers, management and executives on all aspects of compensation and benefits, including pension and welfare plan design, administration and compliance, employee benefits in mergers and acquisitions, executive employment agreements, deferred compensation and severance.
Prior to joining Orrick, Ms. Downie was an associate at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP in New York.
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