Jeffrey J Bakker

Practice Areas

Jeff provides strategic counsel to clients nationwide concerning every executive compensation and employee benefit matter that affects their businesses, including designing and preparing deferred compensation and equity compensation plans, maintaining ERISA and tax compliance for all qualified and nonqualified retirement plans (defined contribution, defined benefit and cash balance plans) and representing clients in Department of Labor benefits plan audits.

Jeff regularly advises clients regarding their critical fiduciary responsibilities in connection with the administration of employee benefit plans and provides valuable strategic advice to clients and other attorneys regarding the employee benefits aspects of corporate transactions. As part of his executive compensation practice, Jeff also frequently negotiates and prepares employment and separation agreements.

Before starting his legal career, Jeff applied his natural mathematical and analytical skills to his duties as an actuarial technician for a major Chicago consulting firm. Jeff’s clients have said that he is “fantastic, responsive and has really good business sense. He is always at the top of his game.” They appreciate his even-handed temperament and his rare ability to combine an intensive analytical approach with creative problem solving skills to develop legal solutions that consistently advance their short- and long-term business objectives.

Career

Partner; Chair, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice Group.

Personal

University of Illinois College of Law (J.D., 1997) magna cum laude; Monmouth College (B.A., 1990) magna cum laude