Friday, January 19

2:30PM - 6:30PM

Employee Benefits

Chair:  Greta E. Cowart, Haynes & Boone LLP, Dallas, TX

2:30pm                  Opening Remarks by the Chair.

2:35pm                  Defined Benefit Plans and the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA). This program will discuss current issues for defined benefit plans, focusing on compliance with the funding and related provisions of the PPA, and legal issues facing cash balance and other hybrid plans in light of the PPA, including issues relating to prior years and the determination letter process.  Moderator: Kurt L.P. Lawson, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Washington, DC.  Panelists:  W. Thomas Reeder, Acting Benefits Tax Counsel, Department of Treasury, Washington, DC; Harlan M. Weller, Government Actuary, Office of Tax Policy, Department of Treasury, Washington, DC; Howard Shapiro, Proskauer Rose LLP, New Orleans, LA; Richard C. Shea, Covington & Burling LLP, Washington, DC; Lawrence J. Sher, Buck Consultants Inc, New York, NY .

3:35pm                  Increased Savings, Diversity and Portability -- PPA Changes for Defined Contribution Plans. This session will focus on the Pension Protection Act changes to defined contribution plans, including automatic enrollment, diversification and new distribution rules.Moderator: Eleanor Banister, King & Spalding, Atlanta, GA. Panelists: Willam Bortz, Associate Benefits Counsel, Office of Tax Policy, Department of Treasury, Washington, DC; Gregory K. Brown, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, Chicago, IL; Mark A. Bodron, Baker Botts LLP, Houston, TX.

4:35pm                  Emerging Fiduciary and other Title I Issues. In this panel, experienced practitioners and Department of Labor representatives will explore the recent participant-directed investment guidance, Department of Labor’s plan fee initiatives, the new fiduciary and prohibited transaction rules under the Pension Protection Act of 2006 and other recent trends and developments under Title I. Moderator: David Mustone, Hunton & Williams LLP, McLean VA.  Panelists: Louis Campagna, Chief, Division of Fiduciary Interpretations, Office of Regulations and Interpretations, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor, Washington, DC; Brian O’Hare, Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, New York, NY; Andrew Oringer, Clifford Chance US LLP, New York, NY.

5:35pm             Government Guest Reception and Cash Bar.