ESOP Lawyers Elizabeth Perdue and Louis Joseph Move to Holland & Knight in Chicago
CHICAGO (May 26, 2015) – Holland & Knight announced today that Elizabeth Perdue has joined the firm as a partner in its Chicago office. Ms. Perdue, who focuses her practice on employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) finance and corporate mergers and acquisitions, comes to Holland & Knight from Morgan Lewis & Bockius, where she was a member of the ESOP practice group in Chicago. Joining the firm with her as senior counsel is Louis Joseph, a former associate solicitor for plan benefit security in the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the agency’s most senior ERISA counsel.
“Betsy is a nationally recognized leader in the ESOP community, and she and Lou will add prestige and depth to our already robust ESOP practice,” said James McDermott, the head of Holland & Knight’s Business Section. “They are a strong addition to our Chicago team, bringing with them an excellent reputation and client roster.”
Ms. Perdue represents both borrowers and lenders in traditional and creative financing transactions, including syndicated bank financings, ESOP loan transactions, and asset-based and structured finance vehicles. She represents privately held companies in mergers, asset and stock acquisitions and dispositions, asset exchanges, spin-offs, roll-ups and leveraged buyouts, and ESOP transactions. Her experience spans a broad spectrum of industries, ranging from manufacturing, distribution and service businesses to government contractors to software, emerging technologies and media.
Mr. Joseph advises employers, financial institutions and vendors on fiduciary and prohibited transaction issues arising under ERISA. While his practice primarily focuses on ESOPs and other employee benefit plans, including investments in employer securities, he also represents clients in regulatory matters before the Internal Revenue Service and DOL. Mr. Joseph’s experience includes counseling companies on qualified retirement plans, welfare benefit plans, executive and equity compensation, and nonqualified deferred compensation plans, among other U.S. and cross-border compensation and benefits issues.
“Holland & Knight has one of the top ESOP practices in the country and its corporate M&A group in Chicago is expanding rapidly,” said Ms. Perdue. “Lou and I believe our practices are an excellent fit with the firm’s platform, and we look forward to working with our new colleagues to better serve our clients.”