Rich Ashley's practice includes advising both public and private companies on the design, implementation and administration of qualified retirement plans, nonqualified retirement plans, welfare benefit plans, equity incentive programs and executive compensation arrangements.

Rich's executive compensation practice focuses on partnership structures, and his experience includes the creation of executive compensation plans for private equity funds, corporate Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Umbrella Partnership Real Estate Investment Trusts (UPREITS), hedge funds, fund of funds, and other domestic and international tiered operational structures. Rich's experience includes both employer and management side representations in connection with the creation of management incentive programs.

Rich maintains an active Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) Title I practice that includes advising professional asset managers, registered investment advisors, plan fiduciaries, and service providers with respect to fiduciary obligations, reporting and disclosure obligations, recordkeeping, and compliance with the prohibited transaction rules under ERISA and the Code. Rich regularly advises private funds and hedge fund sponsors with respect to ERISA Title I matters, and regularly consults with clients with respect to managing plan assets and structuring venture capital and real estate operating companies.

Rich regularly works with plan administrators on benefit plan compliance and testing issues. Rich has experience with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Labor (DOL) correction procedures and has represented clients on a variety of compliance issues in connection with government audits.

Rich has extensive experience in the benefits and compensation issues that arise in connection with the transactions, including Code Sections 280G and 409A compliance. Rich regularly advises Plan fiduciaries with respect to their duties, best practices, matters relating to the ERISA plan assets regulations and ERISA issues arising under credit agreements. Rich also works with Section 16 officers with respect to their legal obligations.

Rich regularly represents public companies, executive officers, and management teams in connection with potential mergers and acquisitions. Rich also designs and assists in the implementation of Change in Control Agreements and executive continuity and protection programs. Rich has represented professional athletes and executives of professional sports' organizations with respect to employment and compensation matters.

Rich's practice includes substantial experience with respect to the fiduciary compliance requirements and the sophisticated operational issues that arise in connection with the investment of plan assets and the management of employer securities within qualified retirement plans including employee stock ownership plans. Rich has represented clients in connection with the purchase and sale of Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) companies, the restructuring of operations for ESOP owned companies, and the fiduciary and administrative issues that arise in connection with establishment, operation, and sale of companies owned or partially owned by ESOPs. Rich's experience also includes work on S. Corporation ESOPs, including experience in managing synthetic equity and other compliance issues that are particular to S. Corporation ESOPs.

AKD Partnersers advises 4U Platform in its sale to Red Oak

Related capabilities

Contact our media team