Andy Wang is a partner at Wang Austin LLC and has over 24 years of experience in the employee benefits and executive compensation area.

Andy advises public and private companies on the design, implementation, administration, and compliance issues that arise in connection with all types of employee benefits plans, including retirement plans, equity-based compensation plans, incentive plans, health and welfare benefit plans, and executive compensation arrangements.

Andy also has represented clients on matters before the IRS and the U.S. Department of Labor involving determination letter submissions, plan corrections, audits, and penalty assessments.

Andy has significant experience handling the employee benefits and executive compensation aspects of different types of corporate transactions. He has represented:

• public and private buyers and sellers in a variety of mergers and acquisitions;
• lenders and borrowers on the employee benefit provisions in credit agreements;
• companies drafting employment agreements and designing executive compensation and equity-based arrangements in initial public offerings and spin-off transactions; and
• management teams and employers in negotiating executive compensation arrangements in buy-out transactions.

Andy has extensive experience with the HIPAA privacy and security rules.

Prior to founding Wang Austin, Andy was a partner in the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation department of Winston & Strawn LLP, where he worked for over 11 years. Prior to Winston & Strawn, Andy worked in the Office of the Solicitor of the United States Department of Labor, where he handled litigation enforcing violations of ERISA's fiduciary duty and prohibited transactions requirements stemming from DOL investigations.

Andy was selected for inclusion in the Illinois Super Lawyers Listing in 2016 and 2017.

Education:

J.D., Northwestern University School of Law, 1994
     Articles Editor, Journal of International Law and Business

B.A. University of Michigan, 1991
     Economics, with high distinction

Admitted:

Illinois

Presentations/Articles:

• " Closing the Deal: How to Spot and Handle the Top Employee Benefits Issues in an M&A Transaction," National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA (September 2014).
• "Department of Labor (DOL) Audit and Enforcement Updates," Illinois CPA Society (December 2013).
• "Annual Legislative & Regulatory Update," Worldwide Employee Benefits Network, Chicago West Chapter, Lisle, IL (December 2012).
• "Compensation and Benefits Issues for Executives of Private Companies," Sixth Annual Executive Compensation Institute, Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, IL (October 2012).
• "Small Plan Employer Compliance," Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, IL (June 2012).
• "Equity Compensation Issues for Buyers and Sellers," Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, IL (May 2011).
• "Surviving a 401(k) DOL Audit," Edgewater and West Ridge Chambers of Commerce and the Rogers Park Business Alliance, Chicago, IL (May 2011).
• "Year-End Action Items for Changes in Compensation and Benefit Law," Winston & Strawn LLP eLunch Briefings (September 2009).
• "Benefit Law Changes Under the New Administration," Winston & Strawn LLP eLunch Briefings (April 2009).
• "Could You Have Done A Better Job with 409A?" Winston & Strawn LLP Employment Law Seminar, Chicago, IL (October 2008).
• "What is Behind the Surge in ERISA Litigation - And How Can We Avoid It," Winston & Strawn LLP Employment Law Seminar, Chicago, IL (October 2004).
• "ERISA Litigation," Winston & Strawn LLP Employment Law Seminar, Chicago, IL (October 2003).
• "The Pros and Cons of IRS Golden Parachute Proposals," with Michael S. Melbinger, Journal of Deferred Compensation, Winter 2003.
• "Not Too Late to Comply With the HIPAA Privacy Rules," Winston & Strawn LLP eLunch Briefings (March 2003).
• "Compliance with the HIPAA Privacy Rules - the Deadline Looms," Winston & Strawn LLP Employment Law Seminar, Chicago, IL (October 2002).
• "The Final HIPAA Privacy Rules Are Out: Now it is Our Turn to Act," Winston & Strawn LLP eLunch Briefings (September 2002).
• "Protecting Yourself from the Tax on Excess Parachute Payments," with Michael S. Melbinger, Compensation & Benefits Management, Spring 2002.

Professional Activities:

• Asian-American Bar Association of Greater Chicago, Honorary Board Member
• Human Resources Management Association of Chicago
• Chinese-American Bar Association of Greater Chicago, Board of Directors
• Illinois State Bar Association