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Practice Area

Retirement Plans

Comprehensive legal guidance for every stage of retirement plan administration.

Share and Download Retirement Plans

Friday, Eldredge & Clark’s Retirement Plans practice is led by the largest and most experienced Employee Benefits group in Arkansas, and one of the most established in the region. Our seven dedicated lawyers focus exclusively on the legal, tax, and ERISA aspects of retirement plans—from plan design and implementation to daily administration, fiduciary governance, and responses to audits and investigations.

We advise public, private, tax-exempt, and governmental employers of all sizes on qualified and nonqualified retirement programs, including profit-sharing and 401(k) plans, defined benefit and cash balance plans, IRAs, and ESOPs. Whether you sponsor a single-participant plan or a complex, multi-entity program with thousands of participants, we provide practical, detail-driven guidance to help you maintain compliance, manage risk, and deliver meaningful retirement benefits to your workforce.

Areas of Focus

Plan Design & Implementation

We help employers design and establish qualified and non-qualified retirement plans that align with business goals and compliance obligations. Our team advises on 401(k) plans, profit-sharing plans, defined benefit plans, cash balance plans, IRAs, and Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). We ensure your plan is tailored to meet both regulatory standards and workforce needs.

Plan Administration & Compliance

Employers rely on our attorneys for guidance on daily plan administration and regulatory compliance. We handle issues involving ERISA governance, fiduciary duties, service provider contracts, plan amendments, corrections, and participant communications—helping clients avoid costly compliance missteps.

Audits, Investigations & Dispute Resolution

When the IRS or Department of Labor initiates an audit or investigation, our attorneys are ready to respond. We represent plan sponsors through all stages of compliance audits and enforcement actions, resolving issues efficiently while minimizing disruption to your operations.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Corporate Transactions

Our attorneys frequently counsel buyers and sellers on retirement plan issues arising in mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, and divestitures. We help clients identify potential liabilities, address plan terminations or mergers, and ensure smooth transitions for plan participants and fiduciaries.

Summary
  • Comprehensive Plan Design & Maintenance: Advising employers on creating, updating, and administering 401(k), pension, cash balance, profit-sharing, IRA, and ESOP plans.
  • Day-to-Day Compliance Support: Handling ERISA governance, plan operations, corrections, distributions, and service provider contracts.
  • Audit & Investigation Defense: Guiding plan sponsors through DOL and IRS audits, investigations, and compliance reviews.
  • M&A and Transaction Support: Addressing retirement plan issues in mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, and business transitions.
  • Tax & ERISA-Focused Team: Dedicated benefits lawyers with advanced tax training and ERISA depth focused on employer retirement plan needs.
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