Andrew S. Williams

OVERVIEW

Andrew Williams helps individuals and businesses deal with employee benefit issues to optimize their personal and business opportunities.

Businesses, in-house legal counsel, tax-exempt entities, accountants, third party administrators and other employee benefit professionals rely on Andrew to assist with benefit entitlement and compliance matters.

Prior to joining Golan Christie Taglia, Andrew was a Member and lead benefits lawyer at Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa. Andrew has also served on the Hinsdale Plan Commission (2003-2006) and speaks on benefit and employment related topics to professional and other groups including the Chicago Chapter of the Association of Law Firm Administrators, the Illinois Hospital Association, the ADP sponsored continuing education series for accountants and ASPPA Regional Conferences in Chicago.

Andrew is “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating, and has been recognized by his peers through a survey conducted by Leading Lawyers Network as among the top five percent of Illinois lawyers in Small, Closely and Privately Held Business Law. He also maintains a website at www.BenefitsLawGroupofChicago.com, which publishes employment and benefits updates, analysis and original commentary, some of which also appears on www.BenefitsLink.com, an aggregator of benefits articles from around the country.

Clients come to Andrew for help with 401(k) plans, ERISA fiduciary matters, contested benefit claims, deferred and equity-based compensation arrangements, administrative correction of retirement plan deficiencies and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) as a business succession strategy.

Andrew regularly works with clients on their concerns relating to:

• Compliance of employment agreements, phantom stock plans, and severance pay plans with Section 409A rules on the form and timing of deferred payments
• Not-for-profit deferred compensation compliance with Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code
• Controlled groups and affiliated service group rules for retirement plans
• Group health COBRA coverage and ERISA subrogation matters
• Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and Qualified Domestic Relations Orders.

He also has extensive experience representing clients in business transactions and the benefit issues involved in mergers and acquisitions.

Andrew closely collaborates with his clients because they help him do a better job. He also strives to provide the best kind of practical advice that is a strategic fit for every client’s long term success.

EDUCATION

• University of Michigan Law School, J.D. with Honors, 1973
• Wabash College, B.A. magna cum laude, 1967
• Phi Beta Kappa

COURT ADMISSIONS

• The United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois (also a member of that Court’s Trial Bar)

BAR ADMISSIONS

• Illinois, 1973

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Chicago Bar Association and its Employee Benefits Committee
• Elected member of the Great Lakes Area TE/GE Council
• Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce and its Lawyers Professional Group

HONORS & AWARDS

Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings