Ranked in 1 Practice Areas

About

Provided by Deborah L Grace

USA

Practice Areas

Deborah (“Deb”) Grace is an experienced benefits attorney skilled at providing practical advice to CFOs and HR professionals about the complex tax and labor laws that impact retirement and savings (401(k)) plans, executive compensation, and welfare benefit plans. She regularly counsels private companies and private equity funds on the benefit plan implications of business acquisitions and dispositions, including employee benefits tax and ERISA compliance review, and advises buyers on the integration of benefit programs based on the structure of the business deal. She advises US based entities and their non-US based owners on the unique tax rules that require separate legal entities under common control to be treated as one employer for US coverage and non-discrimination rules.

Her position as Chair of the Firm’s Benefits Committee means that she has practical experience in applying ERISA’s prudent fiduciary rule including facilitating discussions with service providers about the reasonableness of fees charged and the need to monitor investments offered by the retirement plan. She has negotiated favorable results for clients correcting retirement plan design and administration errors, including late transfer of deferrals, using the IRS’ Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System and the Department of Labor’s Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program. She advises clients about compliance with the Affordable Care Act and the privacy rules under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association Tax Section, Employee Benefits Committee; Michigan Bar Association, Employee Benefits Committee; Past Chair of the Employee Benefits Committee of the Oakland County Bar Association; Member, ASPPA Governmental Affairs Committee

Publications

Author, “Has Your Company Decided to Self-Fund its Medical Plan? Don’t Forget Privacy, Security and Reporting Requirements.” Dickinson Wright All Things HR Blog, November 2022; Author, Using the New Group Health Plan Fee Disclosure Rules To Reduce Plan Costs,” Dickinson Wright All Things HR Blog, May 2022; Author, "What Do a Newly Married Employee, A Long-Term Employee, and a Change of 401(k) Recordkeepers Have in Common? Beneficiary Designation Forms," Dickinson Wright All Things HR Blog, October 2021; Author, “Three Tax Principles that HR Professionals Should Know,” Dickinson Wright All Things HR Blog, March February 2021; Author, “What to do if your Company is Close to the Affordable Care Act’s 50 Full-Time Employee Threshold”, Dickinson Wright HR Blog, September 2019; Author, “Form 5500 Provides Insight on Compliance with IRS and DOL Plan Administration Priorities”, Dickinson Wright Tax Blog”, June 2019; Presenter, “Retirement Plan Audit Risks”, National Webinar for Strafford Publications, May 2019; Author, “The Top 5 Things to Know if You Are New to 401(k) Benefits Administration”, Dickinson Wright HR Blog, February 2019

Education

Kalamazoo College

B.A.

Wayne State University Law School

J.D.

Awards

Employee Benefits Law

Best Lawyers in America®

“Lawyer of the Year”, Employee Benefits Law

Best Lawyers in America®

2021

Employee Benefits/ERISA Law

Michigan Super Lawyers®

“Top Lawyers”, Employee Benefits Law

DBusiness

Discover other Lawyers at
Dickinson Wright PLLC

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Arizona

Insurance

Timothy M. Strong
2
Timothy M. Strong
2
Band 2
Litigation: Appellate

Bennett Evan Cooper
3
Bennett Evan Cooper
3
Band 3
Real Estate

James Patterson
4
James Patterson
4
Band 4

Florida

Intellectual Property

Gregory Mayback
2
Gregory Mayback
2
Band 2

Kentucky

Intellectual Property

Andrew D Dorisio
3
Andrew D Dorisio
3
Band 3
Litigation: General Commercial

Brian Johnson
4
Brian Johnson
4
Band 4

Michigan

Banking & Finance

William P Shield, Jr
1
William P Shield, Jr
1
Band 1
Colleen M Shevnock
2
Colleen M Shevnock
2
Band 2
Rachel Wolock
2
Rachel Wolock
2
Band 2
Craig Hammond
3
Craig Hammond
3
Band 3
Bankruptcy/Restructuring

Steven G Howell
1
Steven G Howell
1
Band 1
Theodore Sylwestrzak
1
Theodore Sylwestrzak
1
Band 1
James Plemmons
2
James Plemmons
2
Band 2
Corporate/M&A

Richard M Bolton
3
Richard M Bolton
3
Band 3
Mark R High
4
Mark R High
4
Band 4
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation

Cynthia A Moore
2
Cynthia A Moore
2
Band 2
Jordan Schreier
2
Jordan Schreier
2
Band 2
Roberta P. Granadier
2
Roberta P. Granadier
2
Band 2
Deborah L Grace
4
Deborah L Grace
4
Band 4
Eric Gregory
U
Eric Gregory
U
Up and Coming
20 of 43 results