Press Release

Shipman Welcomes Knowledgeable Employee Benefits and Taxation Lawyer Ryan A. Less

Issued by Shipman & Goodwin LLP

Jan. 22, 2025

Shipman & Goodwin LLP is pleased to announce that Ryan A. Less has joined the firm as an Associate in the Tax and Employee Benefits Practice Group.

“We are excited to have Ryan, with his outstanding knowledge of both employee benefits and associated taxation law matters join our group,” said Richard Cohen, Chair of Shipman’s Employee Benefits Practice Group. “His talents add depth to our team and his advanced degree in tax law adds a dimension that will benefit many of our employee benefits clients. We are thrilled to have him on board.”

Ryan provides ERISA advice to a variety of employee benefit plan sponsors, including corporate, nonprofit, and governmental plans. He regularly advises on statutory and regulatory compliance matters arising in connection with employee benefit plans, programs and arrangements, including fiduciary duty questions, benefit plan participant eligibility, and resolution of plan defects under the IRS’ Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System. He also advises clients on issues arising out of health and welfare plans, including preparation and implementation of plan documents, adoption materials and SPDs. He has experience with a broad range of employee benefits and executive compensation issues, including fringe benefits, split dollar life insurance policies, and ISOs.

Ryan, who also has his Master of Laws degree in Taxation, regularly advises clients on the structure and administration of non-qualified employee compensation arrangements, including the associated federal tax implications, and he represents clients in negotiations with the Internal Revenue Service.

“It is a tremendous honor to join Shipman,” said Ryan. “I look forward to supporting the firm’s many clients with all their employee benefits, executive compensation and associated taxation needs.”

Ryan is admitted to practice in Oklahoma and Illinois and is a member of the American Bar Association’s Taxation Committee as well as of its Joint Committee on Employee Benefits. He will be located in Shipman’s Hartford office.

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