Charles M. Russman

Employee Benefits Attorney

Charles is an experienced benefits attorney whose practice is focused on employee benefits, executive compensation, and related tax matters. He helps clients design and implement benefits plans, remain updated on compliance requirements and correct plan errors for all types of benefits. Charles regularly works executive and deferred compensation, including deferred cash, options (incentive/ISOs and nonqualified/NQSO), and restricted/synthetic units. He also assists with the growing number of health and welfare benefits plans, such as wrap plans, cafeteria plans, health and welfare plans, health, dental, vision, individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements (ICHRAs), flexible spending accounts (FSAs), health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), disability benefits, and educational and student loan benefits.

Charles regularly assists clients with retirement plans (401(k)s, pension plans, ESOPs, 457 plans and 403(b) plans). Charles enjoys assisting with fiduciary duties, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, and other regulatory requirements. He regularly assists employers with withholding and other tax matters that come up with benefits. He also provides counsel and expertise to financial institutions and other businesses regarding IRAs, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs).

Charles frequently writes and speaks on a variety of employee benefit matters, including COBRA, HIPAA, and implications of the Affordable Care Act. He has also written and presented on privacy and cybersecurity matters for educational institutions and municipalities.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America^®, Banking and Finance Law, Employee Benefits, since 2023

DBusiness© Top Lawyers, Employee Benefits Law, 2023

Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Star, Employee Benefits (ERISA), 2021

Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Up and Coming Lawyer, 2016

Professional Affiliations

Jewish Bar Association

State Bar of Michigan

Presentations

ESOP Funding and Distribution Rules, 2024

Employee Benefits: Legal Best Practices for 2023, 2023

Affordable Care Act: A Practical Refresher, 2023

Privacy and Cybersecurity for Educational Institutions and Municipalities, 2019-2023

SECURE 2.0, 2023

Benefits and Compensation for Educational Institutions, 2022

COBRA: A Detailed Training, 2019-2022

HIPAA for Employers: A Comprehensive Review, 2019-2022

Privacy Considerations for Employee Benefits, 2019 and 2022

Employee Benefits for Educational Institutions: Considerations for During and After COVID, 2021

Privacy in and for Schools, 2021

CARES Act for Employers, 2020

Tea and Tidbits: Avoiding Discrimination in Employee Benefits, 2020

Certifications

Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E)

Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US)

Certified Information Program Manager (CIPM)