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    1. Home
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    3. Christian D. HanceyPeople
    1. Home
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    3. Christian D. HanceyPeople

    Christian D. Hancey

    Partner


    • Rochester
    • Office+1 585.263.1147
    • chancey@nixonpeabody.com
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    Introduction

    Christian Hancey is a partner in the firm’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation group. He focuses on designing, reviewing and implementing a wide range of benefit and compensation programs structured to suit businesses and nonprofit organizations.

    Practice Areas

    Employee Benefits & ERISAEmployee Benefit Plan AuditsExecutive CompensationERISA LitigationLabor, Employment, and BenefitsEmployee Benefits & ERISAExecutive Compensation

    My focus

    I counsel employers on all types of traditional benefit plans, including defined benefit pension plans, 401(k) and 403(b) plans, multiemployer plans, medical benefit plans, cafeteria plans, disability plans and other benefit plans.

    Working with employers and administrative committees, I regularly advise on the fiduciary oversight of ERISA plans, including retirement plan investments, appropriate plan expenses and claims for benefits and other plan administration issues.

    I have substantial experience with executive compensation issues. For example, I draft stock-based compensation plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans, supplemental executive retirement plans, severance plans, and change-in-control agreements.

    I am actively involved in the firm’s transactional practice, working with employers to manage the transition of employees and their benefits during and after a merger or acquisition, as well as ERISA issues arising when investing in and structuring private equity and similar investments.

    I also have significant experience advising employers on IRS and Department of Labor audits and enforcement action.

    Looking ahead

    Regulatory reforms will continue to change the design and operation of retirement plans and group health plans. Employers will continue to seek more sophisticated techniques to enhance the value of employee benefit programs and better incentivize employees, including deferred compensation and equity incentive strategies.

    Insights

    • Speaker, “2023 Austin Fiduciary Summit,” Retirement Plan University, March 30, 2023, Austin, TX
    • Speaker, “Socially Responsible Investing in Retirement Plans and Endowments,” Western Association of College and University Business Officers (WACUBO), 2021 Virtual Annual Conference, (May 24, 2021)
    • Speaker, “Tutorial: Understanding Your Fiduciary Obligations Under ERISA;” “Most Common Compliance Issues for Your Defined Contribution Plan;” and “Fee Equalization and the Essentials of Managing Retirement Plan Expenses;” University Conference Services Mid-Sized Retirement & Healthcare Plan Management Conference, September 15-17, 2019, Nashville, TN
    • Speaker, “Tutorial: Understanding Your Fiduciary Obligations Under ERISA;” “Most Common Compliance Issues for Your Defined Contribution Plan;” and “Fee Equalization and the Essentials of Managing Retirement Plan Expenses;” University Conference Services Mid-Sized Retirement & Healthcare Plan Management Conference, June 4-6, 2019, Chicago, IL
    • Speaker, “Tutorial: Understanding Your Fiduciary Obligations Under ERISA;” “Most Common Compliance Issues for Your Defined Contribution Plan;” and “Fee Equalization and the Essentials of Managing Retirement Plan Expenses;” University Conference Services Mid-Sized Retirement & Healthcare Plan Management Conference, May 5-7, 2019, Boston, MA
    • Speaker, “Tutorial: Understanding Your Fiduciary Obligations Under ERISA;” “Most Common Compliance Issues for Your Defined Contribution Plan;” and “Fee Equalization and the Essentials of Managing Retirement Plan Expenses;” University Conference Service’s Mid-Sized Retirement and Health Plan Management Conference, March 24-27, 2019, San Diego, CA
    • Speaker, "Pre-Conference Tutorial: Fiduciary Obligations Under ERISA," Mid-Sized Retirement and Healthcare Plan Management Conference, March 25, 2018, San Francisco, CA
    • Speaker, "Top 10 Most Common Retirement Plan Compliance Problems and How to Correct Them," Mid-Sized Retirement & Healthcare Plan Management Conference, March 26, 2018, San Francisco, CA
    • Speaker, "Pre-Conference Tutorial: Fiduciary Obligations Under ERISA," Mid-Sized Retirement and Healthcare Plan Management Conference, May 6, 2018, New Orleans, LA
    • Speaker, "Most Common Compliance Issues for Your Defined Contribution Plan," Mid-Sized Retirement and Healthcare Plan Management Conference, May 7, 2018, New Orleans, LA
    • Speaker, "Fee Equalization and the Essentials of Managing Retirement Plan Expenses," Mid-Sized Retirement and Healthcare Plan Management Conference, May 8, 2018, New Orleans, LA
    • Speaker, "Liability and Litigation in University Retirement Plan Management," Western Association of College and University Business Officers (WACUBO), May 2, 2017, Seattle WA
    • Speaker, “Top 10 Most Common Retirement Plan Compliance Problems and How to Correct Them,” Mid-Sized Retirement & Healthcare Plan Management Conference, September 20, 2017, Austin, TX
    • Speaker, “Pre-Conference Tutorial: Fiduciary Obligations Under ERISA,” Mid-Sized Retirement and Healthcare Plan Management Conference, September 17, 2017, Austin, TX
    • Speaker, “Top 10 Most Common Retirement Plan Compliance Problems and How to Correct Them,” Mid-Sized Retirement & Healthcare Plan Management Conference, June 13, 2017, Chicago, IL
    • Speaker, “Pre-Conference Tutorial: Fiduciary Obligations Under ERISA,” Mid-Sized Retirement and Healthcare Plan Management Conference, June 11, 2017, Chicago, IL
    • Speaker, “Top 10 Most Common Retirement Plan Compliance Problems and How to Correct Them,” Mid-Sized Retirement & Healthcare Plan Management Conference, March 21, 2017, Phoenix, AZ
    • Speaker, “Pre-Conference Tutorial: Fiduciary Obligations Under ERISA,” Mid-Sized Retirement and Healthcare Plan Management Conference, March 18, 2017, Phoenix, AZ
    • Panelist, “Top 10 Compliance Issues for Your Retirement Plan,” Long Island CFO Committee, NYSSCPA, December 10, 2015
    • Speaker, “Deferred Compensation: Achieving Significant Tax Benefits While Incenting Key Employees,” Harvard Club of Boston, September 24, 2015
    • Speaker, “New Deferred Compensation Developments Present Opportunities for Business Owners,” New Haven Lawn Club, May 19, 2015
    • Speaker, “Compliance review: Isn’t it time for a tune-up?” New York Employee Benefits Conference (NYEBC) Breakfast Meeting, February 13, 2014
    • Speaker, “DOMA is Dead: Impact of its Obituary on Other Laws,” The New York State Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section Annual Meeting, January 31, 2014
    • Speaker, “ERISA Budget Accounts: Revenue sharing in the retirement plans,” National Webinar, May 22, 2012
    • Speaker, “2012 Employee Benefits Legal Update,” New York Employee Benefits Conference, March 15, 2012
    • Speaker, “Demystifying the IRS and DOL Audit Processes,” National Webinar, September 16, 2012

    In the news

    • The Deal

      Trinity Hunt takes majority stake in Supreme Optimization

      This article covering Trinity Hunt Partners’ majority investment in life sciences digital marketing agency Supreme Optimization mentions Los Angeles Corporate partner Mike Lawhead for leading the NP team representing Supreme in the transaction. The NP team also included Corporate partners Christian Hancey of Rochester, Shahzad Malik of Los Angeles, and Andrew Share of Manchester; San Francisco Labor & Employment partner Seth Neulight; Corporate associates Brian Kenney from Washington, DC and Jacalyn Smith from Chicago; and Los Angeles senior paralegal Mina Gonzaque-Taylor and Chicago paralegal Astrid McGruder, both of the Corporate practice.

      March 15, 2023
    • Mergers & Acquisitions

      Trinity Hunt Partners invests in Supreme Optimization

      This article covering Trinity Hunt Partners’ majority investment in life sciences digital marketing agency Supreme Optimization mentions NP for serving as Supreme’s legal advisor in the deal. Los Angeles Corporate partner Michael Lawhead led the NP deal team, which also included Corporate partners Christian Hancey of Rochester, Shahzad Malik of Los Angeles, and Andrew Share of Manchester; San Francisco Labor & Employment partner Seth Neulight; Corporate associates Jacalyn Smith of Chicago and Brian Kenney of Washington, DC; and Los Angeles senior paralegal Mina Gonzaque-Taylor and Chicago paralegal Astrid McGruder, both of the Corporate practice.

      March 14, 2023
    • Mergers & Acquisitions

      S&P Global Mobility purchases Market Scan

      This article covering S&P Global Mobility’s purchase of automotive pricing and incentive intelligence company Market Scan, mentions NP for advising Market Scan in the sale. The NP deal team was led by San Francisco Corporate partner Lior Zorea, leader of the firm’s West Coast Emerging Companies and Venture Capital team. The team also included Corporate partners Christian Hancey of Rochester and Shahzad Malik of Los Angeles; San Francisco Affordable Housing & Real Estate partners Ian O’Banion and Alison Torbitt; Corporate counsels Michael Fitzpatrick of Boston and Matthew Goedert of San Francisco; Washington, DC Complex Disputes counsel Brian Whittaker; Rochester Cybersecurity & Privacy counsel Jenny Holmes; Corporate associates Robert Pethick of Boston and Brian Kenney of Washington, DC; and Washington, DC Construction & Real Estate Litigation associate Martha Medina.

      March 10, 2023
    • HR News

      Number of 401(k) Funds Offered to Plan Participants Shrinks

      This article on the shrinking number of funds offered to 401(k) plan participants quotes a recent Fall Employee Benefits Briefing blog post written by Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation leader and Corporate partner Eric Paley, Corporate partners Christian Hancey and Brian Kopp, and Corporate associates Lena Gionnette and Jenny Holmes, all in Rochester; and Washington, D.C. Corporate counsel Damian Myers.
      Dec 1, 2020
    • Pensions & Investments

      Partial delay of fiduciary rule leaves investment industry in limbo

      Rochester labor and employment partner Christian Hancey and associate Jenny Holmes co-wrote this article on the Department of Labor’s new fiduciary rule regulations.
      Dec 7, 2017
    • University Business

      Avoiding retirement plan risk

      Rochester Labor & Employment partners Eric Paley and Christian Hancey are both quoted in this article discussing the impact retirement plan fee litigation, which many colleges and universities are facing, has on the higher education community.
      Nov 1, 2016

    Admitted to practice

    New York

    Education

    Brigham Young University, B.A., magna cum laude
    University of Virginia School of Law, J.D.

    Professional activities

    Christian is a Board member of the Center for Youth.  He is also a member of the Monroe County, New York State, and American bar associations (Section of Labor and Employment Law).

    Recognition

    • Christian was selected, through a peer-review survey, for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 in the field of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. He has been listed in Best Lawyers since 2015.
    • Christian has also been named a Recognized Practitioner in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2018 for Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (New York).
    • Christian was selected to the Upstate New York Super Lawyers list in 2014-2015 in the area of employee benefits law.

    Insights And Happenings

    View All
    • Article

      Employee Benefits Briefing

      Nov 15, 2023
    • Event

      Benefits Roadshow - NYC Briefing

      Oct 18, 2023
    • Event

      Benefits Roadshow - Long Island Briefing

      Oct 17, 2023
    View All

    Professionals in the Practice Area

    View All
    • Eric Paley

      Partner / Team Leader, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
      • Rochester
      • Office:+1 585.263.1012
      • epaley@nixonpeabody.com
      Eric Paley
    • Brian Kopp

      Partner
      • Rochester
      • Office:+1 585.263.1395
      • bkopp@nixonpeabody.com
      Brian Kopp
    • Thomas J. McCord

      Partner
      • Boston
      • Office:+1 617.345.1337
      • tmccord@nixonpeabody.com
      Thomas J. McCord
    • Damian A. Myers

      Partner
      • Washington DC
      • Office:+1 202.585.8485
      • dmyers@nixonpeabody.com
      Damian A. Myers
    • Yelena F. Gray

      Partner
      • Chicago
      • Office:+1 312.977.4158
      • yfgray@nixonpeabody.com
      Yelena  F. Gray
    View All

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