Washington, DC. Nixon Peabody has expanded its Corporate practice, adding counsel Damian Myers, who focuses on all aspects of employee benefits and executive compensation compliance and planning.
Based in the firm’s Washington, DC, office, Damian advises clients on day-to-day plan administration, complex matters such as service provider evaluation and contract negotiation, and benefits and compensation matters that arise during corporate transactions. His client work often involves compliance with the myriad laws applicable to health and welfare plans, including ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, the Affordable Care Act, HIPAA, COBRA, and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.
“The world of benefits and compensation is constantly evolving, and clients in this space need proactive guidance and a pragmatic approach toward tracking new developments,” said Eric Paley, a Nixon Peabody partner and leader of the firm’s Employee Benefits team. “Damian brings a key, in-demand area of concentration to our firm’s clients, and we’re thrilled to have him join us.”
With respect to tax-qualified retirement plans, Damian helps clients evaluate plan service providers—such as record-keepers, trustees, investment advisors, and investment managers—and he negotiates related service provider agreements. For defined benefit pension plans, he advises clients on funding issues, de-risking strategies, and conversions to cash balance designs. Damian regularly guides clients through the government audit process, whether initiated by the Internal Revenue Service or the Department of Labor.
“I am excited to join this dynamic group of attorneys and professional colleagues, both in Washington and across the firm,” said Damian. “At a time when benefits and compensation regulation is in flux, Nixon Peabody is perfectly suited to give our clients a competitive edge while keeping them in step with the law.”
Damian was named to the District of Columbia Courts’ Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll in 2017, and he received the Legal Aid Society's 2016 Pro Bono Publico Award. Damian earned his LL.M. with distinction from Georgetown University Law Center, his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law, and his B.S. from the University of Georgia.
