Practice Areas
Stefan Smith utilizes his in-depth background in employee benefits and executive compensation law to advise both public and private companies on establishing and ensuring the continued compliance of tax-qualified defined contribution and defined benefit retirement plans and all forms of executive compensation arrangements.
Stefan counsels clients on employee benefit matters that arise during mergers and acquisitions, finding solutions and helping the deals to move forward. He also works with all types of health and welfare plans and executive and equity-based compensation. These include incentive and non-qualified stock options, restricted stock awards, stock appreciation rights, employee stock purchase plans, profits interests, phantom equity, performance unit and bonus plans, SERPs and other excess benefit plans, and non-qualified deferred compensation plans.
Professional Memberships
State Bar of Texas
The State Bar of California
American Bar Association, Tax Section/Employee Benefits Committee
-- Employee Benefits Committee: Vice Chair
-- Subcommittee on Multiple Employers, PEOs and Controlled and Affiliated Service Groups: Chair (past)
-- Subcommittee on Self Correction, Determination Letters and Other Administrative Practices: Chair (past)
Southwest Benefits Association
-- Board of Directors (2020 to 2023)
-- Education Committee: Chair
Dallas Bar Association
-- Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Section: Chair (past)
Los Angeles County Bar Association
-- Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Section: Chair (past)