Arkansas Business and Little Rock Soirée have named Attorneys Alexandra A. Ifrah and Robert T. Smith to its annual "Best Lawyers in Little Rock" list.
Alexandra is the only attorney recognized by the publication for their work in ERISA Law. She is a partner in the Employee Benefits Practice Group of Friday, Eldredge & Clark. Since joining the firm in 1999, Alexandra has concentrated her practice on the representation of employers from a myriad of industries in complex employee benefits, taxation and executive compensation matters. Alexandra has extensive experience in the design, implementation, compliance and administration of tax-qualified retirement plans (including profit sharing plans, 401(k) plans, defined benefit plans and ESOPs) and nonqualified deferred compensation plans for both large and small business organizations, including governmental and non-profit organizations. Alexandra also has extensive experience in the design, implementation, compliance and administration of health and welfare benefit plans, including group health plans, cafeteria plans, health savings accounts and fringe benefit plans. Alexandra advises clients on all health and welfare benefit plan compliance issues, including helping employers understand their obligations under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), with the regulatory requirements of wellness programs under HIPAA and the ADA and with requirements under applicable federal and state laws regulating welfare benefit plans.
Robert is recognized for his work in Tax Law. He is a partner in the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group. His diverse corporate practice focuses on representing individuals, companies, and financial institutions in general business, transactional, securities and regulatory matters. He has handled transactions in a variety of industries including the banking, healthcare, broadcasting, retail, manufacturing, real estate and technology industries. In the banking area, Robert advises clients on merger and acquisition transactions, lending, regulatory compliance and capital raising activities (including government investment programs). He assists companies in corporate finance matters, the offering of debt and equity securities, and counseling directors and executive officers regarding fiduciary duties and corporate governance issues. Robert also regularly represents professionals and professional firms in the formation, expansion, merger, and division of professional practices.
Best Lawyers is a two-component voting system: peer-review voting and voting by readers of Arkansas Business and Little Rock Soirée. They rely on the lawyers’ expertise to determine who deserves to be on the list and on their readers to tell us how their experiences with individual lawyers rank.