Cher has extensive experience designing, implementing and maintaining complex employee benefits programs, including retirement, health and welfare and executive and deferred compensation programs, including analysis of the impact of Code Sections 409A, 280G and 162(m). She also regularly counsels clients on complicated ERISA issues related to mergers, acquisitions, collective bargaining agreements and retiree health plans. She advises clients on many facets of the Affordable Care Act, wellness programming, HIPAA and HITECH requirements. Cher’s clients include for-profit, tax-exempt entities and governmental entities. Cher is a member of the Firm’s Policy Committee and Recruiting Committee and the leader the firm’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice.
Cher is a graduate of Hampton Roads CIVIC Class of 2010.
Practice Areas
Experience
- Represented a publicly traded financial institution and a large manufacturer in connection with complex acquisitions. In the course of those engagements designed and negotiated a substantial number of executive employment and separation agreements, designed a cash incentive program, and handled the merger and integration of several union and nonunion tax-qualified retirement programs.
- Designed and implemented a new safe harbor Code 401(k) program for a large retail client to replace and terminate a costly and complex defined benefit plan, which included transitioning the 401(k) plan to a new investment and recordkeeping provider.
- Restructured various health and welfare benefit plans/programs for a large non-profit client to streamline Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor reporting requirements and to comply with the Affordable Care Act; negotiated several administrative service agreements with health, welfare and retirement services vendors.
- Regularly assists for profit and charitable organizations in designing and negotiating executive employment agreements, deferred compensation plans and supplemental retirement programs, as well as amending such programs to comply with the restrictions of Internal Revenue Code Sections 409A and 457(f).
- Counseled a governmental entity with respect to the merger of the retirement plan of one of its instrumentalities with and into its retirement plans, negotiation of a SERP benefit for in-coming executives and compliance with plan administration and fiduciary obligations of its 457(b) plan.
- Regularly assists clients and negotiates with the IRS and DOL in audit proceedings and voluntary compliance filings.
- Provides HIPAA/HITECH training, business associate agreements and related policy manuals to various clients.
News / Publications
News
- Willcox Savage Attorneys Recognized as Virginia's 2020 Legal Elite
- Willcox Savage Attorneys Recognized in 2021 Best Lawyers in America
- Attorneys Named in 2020 Virginia Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
- Willcox Savage Attorneys Recognized as Virginia's 2019 Legal Elite
- Attorneys Named in 2019 Virginia Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
- Willcox Savage Attorneys Recognized as Virginia's 2018 Legal Elite
- Attorneys Named in 2018 Virginia Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
- Small employers can help employees with individual health insurance
- Fortis Solutions Group Receives Strategic Growth Investment from Main Post Partners
- Attorneys Named in 2017 Virginia Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
- Willcox Savage Employment Law Outlook - Fall 2016
- Attorneys Named in 2016 Virginia Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
- Join our Feb. 24 Seminar: Affordable Care Act 2016 - Extensions, Updates, Delays and Modifications
- Twenty-Five Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2016
- Attorneys Named in 2015 Virginia Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
- Twenty-Five Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2015
- Willcox Savage Attorneys Recognized by Virginia Super Lawyers
- Twenty-One Attorneys Named as Virginia's "2013 Legal Elite"
- Twenty-Five Attorneys Named "Best Lawyers in America 2014"
- Twenty-Eight Attorneys Named as Virginia's "2012 Legal Elite"
- Twenty-Four Attorneys Named "Best Lawyers in America 2013"
- Twenty-Five Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2011
- Twenty-Seven Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2010
- Willcox Savage Welcomes New Partner to Employee Benefits Group
Publications
- Employment Law Outlook - Fall 2020
- Employment Law Outlook - Spring 2020 (SPECIAL COVID-19 ISSUE)
- Employment Law Outlook - Winter 2020
- Employment Law Outlook - Summer 2019
- Employment Law Outlook - Spring 2019
- Employment Law Outlook - Winter 2019
- Employment Law Outlook - Fall 2018
- Employment Law Outlook - Summer 2018
- Employment Law Outlook - Spring 2018
- Employment Law Outlook - Winter 2018
- Employment Law Outlook - Fall 2017
- Employment Law Outlook - Summer 2017
- Employment Law Outlook - Fall 2016
- Employment Law Outlook - Spring 2016
- Employment Law Outlook - Winter 2016
- Employment Law Outlook - Fall 2015
- Employment Law Outlook - Summer 2015
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs. Affordable Care Act
- Employment Law Outlook - Spring 2015
- Employment Law Outlook - Winter 2015
- What the same-sex marriage case means
- Employment Law Outlook - Fall 2014
- Employment Law Outlook - Summer 2014
- Affordable Care Act - Guidance for large employers under the law
- Employment Law Outlook - Spring 2014
- Affordable Care Act - Some transitional relief granted for employers
- Employment Law Outlook - Winter 2014
- High fashion, high rewards and high risk
- Employment Law Outlook - Summer 2013
- Employment Law Outlook - Spring 2013
- What are the potential penalties for employers?
- Play or pay: Who are your full-time employees?
- Employment Law Outlook - Winter 2013
- Are you a large employer subject to play or pay?
- Employment Law Outlook - Fall 2012
- Employment Law Outlook - Summer 2012
- The Supreme Court Ruling on the Affordable Care Act and Implications for Employers
- New Summary of Benefits Coverage for employer health plans required on or after September 23, 2012
- Employment Law Outlook - Winter 2012
- New rules for cells provided by employer
- Employment Law Outlook - Summer 2011
- Why employers need to understand 401K expenses
- Employment Law Outlook - Fall 2010
- Employer Health Plan Issues Part II - 2012 and Beyond
- Employer health plan issues for 2010-11
- Employment Law Outlook - Summer 2010
- Employment Law Outlook - Spring 2010
- Employment Law Outlook - Winter 2010
- Employer sponsored plans require legal updates
- Major Health Plan Reform Issues - It's Time to Update Your Health and Welfare Plans