Brian K. Haynes

Brian is an employee benefits and executive compensation attorney and co-chair of the firm’s tax practice.

With more than 35 years of experience, he primarily concentrates his practice on Taft-Hartley collectively bargained multiemployer pension and health and welfare plans; defending delinquent employer contribution actions and withdrawal liability assessments; defending mass withdrawal liability assessments and representing employers in potential settlements with the PBGC.

In company sales and acquisitions, Brian deals with employee benefits issues, including the planning for potential withdrawal liability often triggered by such transactions. For tax exempt organizations, he counsels on tax sheltered annuities, deferred compensation, and “church plans.” Brian also leads clients through the complex rules for estate and income tax planning for qualified retirement plans and IRAs and handles general trust and estate issues as well. He also advises on tax and corporate law opportunities and issues.

Brian was an adjunct professor in the Syracuse University School of Law teaching Deferred Compensation (ERISA) for almost 20 years and was an adjunct professor in the Syracuse University Legal Studies Program teaching Estates, Wills, and Trusts for more than 20 years. He served as Chair of the Life Insurance and Employee Benefits Committee of the Trust and Estates Section of the New York State Bar Association for three years. Brian is a past Co-Chairman of the Plan Design and Qualification Subcommittee of the ABA Employee Benefits Committee and Co-Editor of the Plan Design and Administration and Special Taw Law Considerations Chapters for the original and First Edition of the ABA “Employee Benefits Law” treatise published by BNA. He has authored numerous articles on withdrawal liability and estate planning matters and is a frequent lecturer on a variety of topics, both at the state and national level. Brian also authored part of the original Chapter on “Withdrawal Liability” in this same BNA treatise.