Mr. Kittrell represents a variety of clients on benefit matters including executive compensation, qualified retirement plans, and incentive compensation plans. He deals with the Treasury Department, national office of the IRS, Department of Labor, and Securities and Exchange Commission on benefits issues. He is a member of the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals, the ESOP Association, and the American Bar Association Section of Taxation.

He works with private and publicly held companies, as well as exempt organizations. He advises management and boards of directors about the tax, securities, and corporate aspects of compensation arrangements, including stock-based incentive plans, SERPs, directors’ compensation, and performance compensation. This work includes executive employment contracts, non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements, stock option plans, restricted stock programs for public and private corporations, and insurance-based arrangements. He assists in the preparation of public disclosure documents on executive compensation, including proxies and IPO documents, and compliance with stock exchange requirements.

In the area of qualified retirement plans, Mr. Kittrell assists in the design and operation of pension and profit sharing plans, 401(k) cash or deferred arrangements, and other specialized plans. He is experienced in the formation and implementation of leveraged and non-leveraged employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), including their use as part of multi-investor leveraged buy-outs. He has been the outside fiduciary counsel on ESOP matters for a large national bank.

Mr. Kittrell also represents financial institutions on the design and operation of individual retirement accounts. He provides advice with respect to prohibited transaction issues under Title I of ERISA for financial institutions, broker-dealers, and other service providers. He obtained the first prohibited transaction exemption involving the demutualization of a health insurance company.

He represents clients with respect to plan qualification and related issues with federal administrative and regulatory agencies, including the VCR and CAPS programs of the IRS. He is experienced in the employee benefits aspects of mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Kittrell works with clients on welfare benefit plans and other types of insured and uninsured fringe benefit programs. He has experience in the ERISA issues raised by downsizing and out-sourcing, including such special programs as early retirement incentives, severance programs and change of control agreements.