Employee Owned 2026

Litigation attorneys Todd Wozniak, Sean Sullivan and Chelsea McCarthy will participate in Employee Owned 2026, hosted by The ESOP Association. The organization's premier national conference will bring together employee owners, company leaders, trustees, advisors and other industry professionals for four days of education, networking and community building focused on the long-term success of employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) companies. Todd, Sean and Chelsea will each join a session on the third day of the conference.

During his presentation, Todd will describe how careful documentation can help mitigate risk during ESOP transactions. Drawing from the perspectives of trustees and defense counsel, the panel will examine practical approaches to recording diligence, negotiations, key agreements and decision-making discussions. Attendees will learn how a durable evidentiary record can support fiduciary actions and help defend those decisions if they later face scrutiny.

Sean's session will explore the interconnected considerations that can determine whether an ESOP acquisition reaches closing. Speakers will address trustee approval, lender coordination, Section 1042 tax planning, transaction structure and communication among key stakeholders, providing practical strategies for navigating obstacles and improving alignment throughout the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deal process.

Chelsea will discuss how recent U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) policy statements compare with ongoing investigations and litigation involving ESOP valuations, governance practices and transaction conduct. She will consider how trustees, boards and companies can apply current guidance when responding to regulatory inquiries and legal challenges. The presentation will also outline when artificial intelligence (AI) tools may assist with document and process reviews, as well as when privilege, confidentiality and discovery concerns may outweigh their potential benefits

Session Times and Topics

Documenting the Process – Mitigating Transaction Risk
November 3, 2026 | 9:15 – 10:15 a.m.
Speaker: Todd Wozniak

ESOP M&A: How to Close the Deal
November 3, 2026 | 1:45 – 2:45 p.m.
Speaker: Sean Sullivan

DOL Enforcement Shift: A View from the Field
November 3, 2026 | 4:10 – 5:10 p.m.
Speaker: Chelsea McCarthy