Stacy Hooper

Stacy Hooper helps employers navigate the complex legal and business challenges that arise when designing and maintaining employee benefits programs. She advises clients ranging from small businesses to public companies on employee benefits and executive compensation matters, with particular experience serving healthcare systems, physician organizations, healthcare technology companies and retail employers.

A significant portion of Stacy's practice is devoted to health and welfare plans. She helps employers navigate Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) compliance, Affordable Care Act requirements (including resolving "employer mandate" or ESRP penalties), mental health parity obligations, as well as Health Insurance Affordability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and COBRA issues. Her experience also includes advising on various spending accounts (including HSAs, FSAs, HRAs, ICHRAs and QSEHRAs), wellness and voluntary benefit programs, as well as multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs).

Stacy also advises on retirement plans, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and executive compensation arrangements. She counsels employers on fiduciary compliance and plan governance, helps resolve operational and compliance issues, and guides clients through U.S. Department of Labor and IRS audits, inquiries and investigations.

In addition, Stacy advises on employee benefits and executive compensation matters in acquisitions and divestitures, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A) due diligence and the transition and integration of health and retirement plans. Working closely with the Firm's corporate, tax, employment and healthcare teams, she helps clients navigate multidisciplinary issues and align benefits strategy with broader workforce and business objectives