Anthony J. Kolenic Jr.

Partner | akolenic@wnj.com | V-Card Grand RapidsT 616.752.2412F 616.222.2412M 231.557.7412 For more than 30 years, Tony Kolenic has represented private sector, tax-exempt and governmental employers in all facets of employee benefits and executive compensation. He regularly counsels clients regarding compliance with ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code and various labor and securities laws impacting 401(k) plans, defined benefit plans, multiemployer plans, health care plans, stock option plans, change in control agreements and employee stock ownership plans,... Read More

For more than 30 years, Tony Kolenic has represented private sector, tax-exempt and governmental employers in all facets of employee benefits and executive compensation. He regularly counsels clients regarding compliance with ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code and various labor and securities laws impacting 401(k) plans, defined benefit plans, multiemployer plans, health care plans, stock option plans, change in control agreements and employee stock ownership plans, as well as all related employee benefit and executive compensation programs. He is the Chair of the Firm's Employee Benefits Practice Group.

  • Biography
  • Experience
  • News
  • Publications
  • Leadership
  • Speaking Engagements
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Industries

Practices

Education

  • University of Michigan J.D. 1977 magna cum laude
  • Michigan State University B.S. 1975 with high honors

Admitted

  • 1978, Michigan
  • 1999, Colorado

Honors and Awards

  • Named to Michigan Super Lawyers 2006-Present
  • Best Lawyers in America, Employee Benefits Law, 1995-Present
  • Rated a leader in the field of employee benefits and executive compensation law in Michigan by Chambers USA 2009-Present
  • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Muskegon Community College Distinguished Alumnus 2012
  • Order of the Coif
  • Recipient of the University of Michigan Law School Katcher Senior Tax Prize
  • Fellow, Michigan State Bar Foundation

Bar Associations

  • American Bar Association
    Taxation Law Section; Business Law Section; Labor and Employment Law Section
  • State Bar of Michigan
    Taxation Law Section; Business Law Section; Labor and Employment Law Section; State Bar of Michigan Muskegon County Disciplinary Panel #2 Chairperson

Teaching and Lecturing

  • Adjunct Faculty Member, Western Michigan University (Certified Employee Benefits Specialist Program), 1990-05
  • Adjunct Faculty Member, Grand Valley State University (Taxation and Employee Benefits), 1996-Present
  • Adjunct Faculty Member, Muskegon Community College, 1983-88

Experience

Qualified Plans Generally

  • Designing and drafting defined benefit, 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), stock bonus and employee stock ownership plans
  • Negotiating complex agreements on behalf of employers with third-party service providers
  • Designing and implementing early retirement incentive programs offering employees increased pension and health benefits
  • Advising publicly traded companies on the merger of multiple defined contribution plans
  • Counseling companies on the fiduciary issues associated with defined contribution plan investments in employer stock
  • Counseling employers regarding the impact of mergers and acquisitions on their pension, 401(k), multiemployer, health and welfare and non-qualified deferred compensation plans
  • Assisting employers with submissions to correct retirement plan operational errors under Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor correction procedures
  • Implementing the freeze and termination of defined benefit pension plans with the PBGC in both standard and distress terminations
  • Assisting employers in successfully resolving issues raised in Department of Labor and Internal Revenue Service audits
  • Advising employers and individuals in high dollar QDRO disputes

Governmental and Tax-Exempt Employers

  • Designing and drafting governmental "pick-up" plans
  • Advising governmental and tax-exempt employers on the final 403(b) and 457(b) regulations, including compliance with ERISA, information sharing agreements, and Form 5500 filing requirements

Non-qualified Plans and Compliance With Section 409A

  • Assisting employers with the review, design, drafting and 409A compliance of non-qualified deferred compensation plans and complex equity incentive plans for executives and key employees
  • Drafting and conducting Internal Revenue Code Section 409A reviews of deferred compensation plans, including phantom stock plans, individual account balance plans, non-account balance plans, incentive based plans and severance agreements

Multiemployer Pension Plans 

  • Counseling employers, lending banks and multiemployer pension plans regarding multiemployer plan withdrawal liability and the impacts of multiemployer plan "endangered" and "critical" status
  • Assisting employers with reviewing and challenging multimillion dollar withdrawal liability claims by multiemployer pension funds

Professional Affiliations

  • Great Lakes TE/GE Council
    Chair, Liaison Council (2012-Present)
  • Michigan Bankers Association
    Advisor, Trust Committee

Community Affiliations

  • Sylvia and Richard Kaufman Interfaith Institute
    Dialogue Committee
  • Kiwanis Division 15
    Past President and Lieutenant Governor
  • Muskegon County Catholic Education Foundation
    Past President and Board Member
  • Muskegon County Museum
    Past President
  • Muskegon Jaycees
    Recipient, Distinguished Service Award

Speaking Engagements

  • "Lessons Learned:  ERISA Fees and Expenses," WNJ Human Resources Seminar, April 29, 2013, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • "The Anatomy of a VCP Submission:  Anything That Can Go Wrong, Will Go Wrong," WNJ Human Resources Seminar, May 2, 2012, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • "Surviving -- Even Thriving -- as an ERISA Fiduciary in Today's 401(k) World, WNJ Human Resources Seminar, May 25, 2011, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • "Correction of Section 409A Errors," IRS TE/GE Liaison Group, Chicago, Illinois, July, 2010
  • "Employee Benefits General Session," WNJ Human Resources Seminar, March 23, 2010, Grand Rapids, Michigan   
  • "Employer of Choice - Meaningful Benefits - Retirement," WNJ Human Resources Seminar, September 11, 2008, Grand Rapids, Michigan 
  • Speaker at various seminars for employee benefit service providers and attorneys

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