Loretta Richard is senior counsel in Ropes & Gray’s employment, executive compensation and employee benefits practice. She concentrates on general federal income tax matters, executive compensation and employee benefits. She has special proficiency in tax and benefits controversy matters (including administrative controversy and litigation).
With over 30 years of experience, Loretta regularly represents public and private companies in connection with employee benefit and executive compensation matters, including work on mergers and acquisitions involving both U.S. domestic and international operations (including distressed companies). Loretta works with in-house counsel, benefits professionals, finance professionals, benefits committees, investment committees, fiduciaries and others on matters related to design, establishment, implementation, operation and administration of executive compensation and employee benefit plans. She advises clients on executive compensation and employee benefits compliance matters, identifying and correcting errors in documentation and operation. She advises clients on employment and equity and equity-related compensation matters, related to employees located in the United States and abroad. She advises on the legal aspects of post-transaction arrangements, including spin-offs and integration, and transition services arrangements.
Loretta has special expertise in employee stock ownership plan matters, and has advised on the establishment and termination of ESOPs, joint ventures and the purchase and sale of ESOP-owned companies. She has represented clients in benefits litigation matters involving claims relating to employee stock ownership plans, company common stock, benefit plan contract matters, ERISA pre-emption, class action and benefit claim denials, among other things. She regularly represents clients in front of (and negotiates with) administrative agencies, such as the IRS, the DOL and the PBGC. In addition, as part of her tax controversy practice, Loretta regularly represents partnerships, corporations and individuals in connection with general tax litigation matters. She is a member of, and has appeared before U.S. District Courts, the U.S. Tax Court and the Federal Court of Claims in connection with tax and benefits litigation matters.