Deborah L. Grace

Deborah (“Deb”) Grace advises private companies, non-profits, colleges, universities, and governmental entities on the complex tax and labor laws that impact the benefits that these entities offer to their employees. She counsels private companies and equity funds on the benefit plan implications of business acquisitions and dispositions, including due diligence review and advising on the integration of benefit programs based on the structure of the business deal. Her experience includes advising non-US entities on the unique tax rules that require separate legal entities under common control to be treated as one employer for US non-discrimination rules. She has counselled clients on how to correct retirement plan administration errors, including late transfer of deferrals and failure to timely amend plan documents. She has extensive experience in advising plan sponsors on the design, implementation, and administration of various types of retirement plans, including 401(k), profit sharing, defined benefit, ESOP, 403(b), and 457 plans, and advises investment committees on their ERISA fiduciary responsibilities with respect to these plans. She also advises companies on the design, implementation and administration of insured and self-insured medical plans, dental plans, life insurance, disability, and cafeteria plans, including pre-tax premium plans and flexible spending account plans, and compliance with the Affordable Care Act. She has assisted governmental entities in structuring medical benefit plans to comply with Michigan’s Publicly Funded Health Insurance Contribution Act (2011 Public Act 152) and has advised school districts about requirements imposed under the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System Act.