Stephen C. "Steve" Kisling

Steve Kisling likes to make things simple for his clients, which is fortunate considering the complexity of his employee benefits and tax practice.

While it is a generalization, but no great secret, that many lawyers run a little hot-blooded, Steve is calm, patient and always composed. He knows that business owners, benefits professionals and human resources personnel have multiple balls in the air at any given time, and he enjoys relieving some of the strain and worry that comes with the administration of benefit plans. So whether it is a quick call to address a discrete tax or drafting question or a lengthy strategic discussion, Steve provides answers and advice as clearly and painlessly as possible.

But there is much more to Steve than just a pleasant demeanor. Steve has more than 30 years’ experience in tax and planning matters, from both the public sector enforcement and guidance perspective and the private sector creation and compliance perspective. He is a frequent lecturer on issues concerning benefits and general tax matters. Additionally, Steve has served as chair of the Employee Benefits Committee of the Cincinnati Bar Association.

At Katz Teller, Steve is the chair of the firm’s benefits committee and a member of the firm’s administrative and retirement plan committees.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS EXPERIENCE

Since 1980, Steve has represented employers (with an emphasis on health care organizations) in all aspects of qualified profit sharing and defined benefit plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans, and executive compensation arrangements, including Section 409A compliance. He regularly works with clients in dealing with governmental agencies including the IRS and the Department of Labor on retirement plan audits and other administrative matters. His experience includes:

• Design and implementation of multi-tiered employee benefit programs pursuant to a major restructuring of a large healthcare provider in greater Cincinnati
• Design and implementation of qualified defined benefit plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans for smaller employers to provide significant benefits to attract and retain key employees

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION EXPERIENCE

Steve also represents various non-profit organizations with respect to their formation, tax-exemption and ongoing operations.