Melissa B. Kurtzman

mkurtzman@littler.com
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Melissa B. Kurtzman focuses her practice on representing management in a variety of employee benefits matters, including the design and implementation of qualified and non-qualified retirement plans and welfare and fringe benefit programs, employee benefits tax matters and employee benefits in mergers and acquisitions. She also provides advice on:

  • Employee benefit plan administration
  • Reporting and disclosure obligations
  • Fiduciary responsibilities
  • Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor correction programs
  • Contingent workforce issues
  • The efficient design of retirement and welfare plans

Melissa acted as an expert witness in a federal bankruptcy matter in connection with qualified plan issues.  Additionally, she represents plan sponsors in employee benefit plan IRS and DOL audits. She assists plan sponsors in self-audits of employee benefits plans prior to or in connection with government audits. Her benefits clients include the following types of companies and industries:

  • Universities
  • Retail
  • Contingent workforces
  • Legal services
  • Accounting services
  • Construction
  • Airlines
  • Healthcare
  • Transportation
  • Manufacturing
  • Financial services
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Consulting services

Melissa is a member of Littler Mendelson's Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Group.

Prior to joining Littler, Melissa served as a partner at Wolf Block LLP where she focused on employee benefits. She was also the former director of ERISA compliance at a large retirement plan administration company.

Credentials & Recognition

Speaking Engagements

Face the (Cyber) Nation - Employee Benefits

  • May 10, 2024
  • Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ

Secure Act 2.0 Got You Feeling Insecure? Face the 401(k) Challenges and Find Workable Solutions

  • May 11, 2023
  • Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ

Benefits Jeopardy: Incentives and Benefits for the Modern Workforce

  • May 6, 2022
  • Littler Executive Employer Conference

SECURE and CARES Acts - Impacts on Your Retirement Plan

  • May 28, 2020
  • Client Webinar

SECURE and CARES Act Impact on Your Retirement

  • May 28, 2020
  • Client Webinar

A Fiduciary's Guide to the COVID-19 Correction and Beyond

  • May 14, 2020
  • CE Webinar

Roundtable

  • October 8, 2019
  • 2019 New Jersey Healthcare and Retirement Plan Summit

The A Team: Adding Value to Your Clients

  • May 21, 2019
  • PICPA Employee Benefit Plans Conference

MEWAs, MEPs, PEO and Outsourcing

  • May 8, 2019
  • 2019 AICPA Employee Benefit Plans Conference, New Orleans, LA

Anti-Assignment Rules – Procedures, Legal and Tax Issues

  • May 7, 2019
  • 2019 AICPA Employee Benefit Plans Conference, New Orleans, LA

Ask the Experts – Local Professional Panel

  • October 3, 2018
  • 2018 New Jersey Fiduciary Summit

The Constantly Shifting Sands of Employee Benefits: How to Level the Landscape

  • May 3, 2018
  • Littler Executive Employer, Phoenix, AZ

What’s in Your Fiduciary Toolkit? A Guide to Good Fiduciary Governance

  • June 15, 2017
  • Littler’s Annual Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Summit, New York, NY

The Top 10 Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Issues in 2017

  • May 11, 2017

Retirement Plans Under Attack by Plan Participants and Government Agencies: An Action Plan for Employers

  • July 28, 2016
  • 2016 Employee Benefits Regional Roadshow, Charlotte, NC

Retirement Plans Under Attack by Plan Participants and Government Agencies: An Action Plan for Employers

  • June 15, 2016
  • 2016 Employee Benefits Regional Roadshow, New York, NY

Retirement Plans Under Attack by Plan Participants and Government Agencies

  • May 26, 2016
  • Withum Audit Tax Advisory, Somerset Palace, Somerset, NJ

Dealing with Plans Under Attack

  • May 24, 2016
  • NJCPA Conference

Retirement Plans Under Attack by Plan Participants and Government Agencies: An Action Plan for Employers

  • May 5, 2016

Why Quibble with Tibble? The Supreme Court Reminds Fiduciaries of the Wide Scope of Their Duties

  • June 9, 2015
  • Littler Mendelson, New York, NY

Benefits Document Drafting is Key to Staying Out of Court

  • May 8, 2015
  • Littler Mendelson, Phoenix, AZ

Pension Plan Lump Sum Windows: Legal Issues

  • April 28, 2015
  • Pension Lump Sum Elections Event - CREWS, Conshohocken, PA

Additional Thought Leadership

Pensions and Retirement Plans 2019

  • February 3, 2020
  • Lexology

401(k) Basics

  • April 2011
  • Littler Employer

IRS/DOL Steps Up Enforcement Efforts On Qualified Retirement Plans

  • March 2011

First Glimpse at Grandfathered Health Plans Regulations

  • June 2010

Healthcare Reform

  • November 2009
  • Littler ASAP

Books & Book Chapters

  • Pensions & Retirement Plans - USA, Getting the Deal Through, Law Business Research Ltd., chapter co-author: Steven J. Friedman, 2013-2014, 2016

Let us know how we can help you navigate your particular workplace legal issues.