The ESOP Association 2026 National Conference

Litigation attorneys Chelsea McCarthy and Todd Wozniak will participate in The ESOP Association's 2026 National Conference in Washington, D.C. The annual gathering of employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) professionals around the country serves educational and networking purposes, combining informative presentations on trends and best practices with chances for meetups and skill building. Ms. McCarthy and Mr. Wozniak will each join sessions on the final day of the event.

Ms. McCarthy's presentation will focus on letters from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) alerting parties to audits or investigations surrounding an ESOP transaction or ESOP fiduciary duties. She will equip attendees with the knowledge and skills for an effective response, from background information on how the DOL conducts investigations and what it homes in on during the process, to what steps companies and boards should take to prepare. She will also describe how to handle document requests, list typical questions asked by the DOL and touch on privilege and tolling issues that may arise throughout the course of an investigation.

Mr. Wozniak will join a panel parsing ESOP litigation trends and their effects on ESOP plan sponsors, trustees and service providers. He will examine new and anticipated regulatory initiatives at the DOL and IRS as well as other policies promulgated by the Trump Administration. He will also discuss recent significant cases that affect Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) fiduciary and prohibited transactions rules.

Session Times and Topics

DOL Investigations: Lessons Learned
May 8, 2026 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. ET
Speaker: Chelsea McCarthy

ESOP Legal Update
May 8, 2026 | 12:50 – 1:50 p.m. ET
Speaker: Todd Wozniak