Lori Oliphant,
ERISA/Employee Benefits
Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC

Lori Oliphant, Member
Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC
(214) 251-8421

Expertise

Lori Oliphant, has extensive experience in all types of employee benefit and compensationĀ matters. She represents a diverse group of clients, including Fortune 500 companies, privately-held companies, governmental entities, tax-exempt entities, private investment funds, real estate funds and investment managers.

Education

University of Florida, Levin College of Law, J.D., 1998
Honors:
Moot Court Member
Finalist in International Moot Court Competition

University of Houston Law Center, LL.M.,  Taxation, 2005

Florida State University, B.S., Accounting, 1995, cum laude

Representative Experience

Advises clients on employee benefits issues and Title I issues arising in the context of corporate transactions (including mergers and acquisitions), private placements, initial public offerings, spin-offs, corporate restructurings and financings.

Advises private investment funds and real estate funds with respect to investments by retirement plans and accounts.

Advises investment managers on their fiduciary responsibilities and the application of the prohibited transaction rules with respect to the management of retirement plans and accounts.

Advises high net worth individuals on prohibited transaction rules related to investments by individual retirement accounts.

Assists clients with the implementation and administration of tax-qualified retirement plans (pension plans, profit sharing plans, 401(k) plans, cash balance plans, ESOPs and governmental plans), as well as health and welfare plans (including self-insured medical plans, cafeteria plans, consumer-driven health plans and fringe benefit plans).

Assists clients with the structuring and preparation of equity incentive arrangements (including stock purchase plans, stock option arrangements and restricted stock plans), deferred compensation arrangements, nonqualified plans and related executive compensation programs.

Represents clients before various governmental entities, including the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration, as well as the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Represents clients in complex ERISA controversy matters, including fiduciary breach issues and investigations by governmental agencies.

Professional & Community Involvement

American Bar Association, RPTE Employee Plans Committee  (Co-Chairperson)

Joint Committee Employee Benefits, Representation of RPTE (2020-2021)

ABA National Conference of Lawyers and Corporate Fiduciaries

TE/GE Gulf Coast Council, Vice Chair

State Bar of Texas

Dallas Bar Association

National Association of Stock Plan Professionals (Board Member, Dallas Chapter)

ESOP Association

Southwest Benefits Association (Prior Board member, Prior Education Chair)

National Center for Employee Ownership

First United Methodist Church of Richardson

Awards & Recognition

Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, 2009, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

Best Lawyers in America, 2021

Admitted to Practice, Texas, 1999