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Lisa B.
Zimmer

  • Partner
lzimmer@wnj.com
Detroit
T 313.546.6191
F 248.603.9791

My admin

industries

practices

  • Successfully negotiated settlement of two-year DOL investigation of client’s two multiple employer defined contribution plans with combined assets of more than $285 million.
  • Managed employee benefit plan issues in connection with bankruptcy and subsequent liquidation of company, including eventual termination of all benefit plans; for defined benefit pension plan, prepared all required filings and notices to the PBGC and handled all discussions with PBGC, including those leading to PBGC’s trusteeship of the plan.
  • Successfully negotiated IRS voluntary compliance program application for 401(k) plan operational failure, saving the client more than $100,000 in potential additional contributions to the plan.
  • Negotiated investment manage
  • Successfully negotiated settlement of two-year DOL investigation of client’s two multiple employer defined contribution plans with combined assets of more than $285 million.
  • Managed employee benefit plan issues in connection with bankruptcy and subsequent liquidation of company, including eventual termination of all benefit plans; for defined benefit pension plan, prepared all required filings and notices to the PBGC and handled all discussions with PBGC, including those leading to PBGC’s trusteeship of the plan.
  • Successfully negotiated IRS voluntary compliance program application for 401(k) plan operational failure, saving the client more than $100,000 in potential additional contributions to the plan.
  • Negotiated investment manager agreements for client’s defined benefit and defined contribution plans with combined assets of $1.8 billion.
  • Managed disaffiliation/withdrawal process for multiple employer pension plan with over $36 million in assets; during a three year period approximately 20 employers either spun-off from the plan (and created their own pension plans) or withdrew from the plan (and agreed to pay their unfunded liability).
  • Prepared documents to merge two multiple employer defined contribution plans with approximately 200 participating employers in each plan and combined assets of more than $285 million, taking into account all of the available options in the main plan documents and corresponding adoption agreements.
  • Developed and supervised qualified domestic relations order review process for client’s pension and 401(k) plans covering more than 100,000 participants and with combined assets of more than $5.4 billion.
  • Analyzed and prepared PBGC reportable event filings and 4062(e) filings (in connection with facility closures) for several defined benefit pension plan clients and handled subsequent discussions with PBGC.
  • Drafted requests for proposal for investment advisory, recordkeeping and trustee services for pension and 401(k) plan clients.
  • Revised investment adviser clients’ advisory and recordkeeping agreements for compliance with the reporting requirements under ERISA Section 408(b)(2).
  • Counseled investment adviser clients on a range of ERISA compliance issues in connection with the services they provide to their retirement plan clients, including compliance with ERISA’s prohibited transaction rules.
  • As ERISA counsel for Cerberus Capital Management, successfully obtained dismissal of class action lawsuit by former Chrysler executives alleging that their nonqualified deferred compensation plan benefits should have survived bankruptcy.
  • “Fiduciary Responsibilities in Today’s Regulatory Environment,” Fiducient Advisors Investors Conference, Chicago, Illinois (October 13, 2022)
  • “Warner Virtual Automotive Executive Roundtable Series: HR Challenges and Issues,” Warner Webinar, June 16, 2021
  • “The Modernized Marketing Rule,” Virtual CCO Roundtable, March 3, 2021
  • “Total Wellness Programs: Win-Win for the Employer and Employee,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, Grand Rapids, Michigan (May 7, 2019)
  • “
  • “Fiduciary Responsibilities in Today’s Regulatory Environment,” Fiducient Advisors Investors Conference, Chicago, Illinois (October 13, 2022)
  • “Warner Virtual Automotive Executive Roundtable Series: HR Challenges and Issues,” Warner Webinar, June 16, 2021
  • “The Modernized Marketing Rule,” Virtual CCO Roundtable, March 3, 2021
  • “Total Wellness Programs: Win-Win for the Employer and Employee,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, Grand Rapids, Michigan (May 7, 2019)
  • “Financial Wellness Plans,” MiTechNews.com Podcast (May 16, 2018)
  • “Benefit Plan Nondiscrimination Testing,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, Grand Rapids, Michigan (May 3, 2018)
  • “Benefits Myth Busters” and “Defined contribution Plans 101,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, Grand Rapids, Michigan (May 23, 2017)
  • “DOL Fiduciary Rule,”Michigan Bankers Association webinar (January 30, 2017)
  • “Identify and Fix the Thorny Issues in Retirement Plans,”Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) Mega Conference, Ann Arbor, Michigan (December 7, 2016)
  • “How to Attract and Retain Millennials,” Warner 2016 Labor and Benefits Executive Panel, Novi, Michigan (November 2, 2016)
  • “Correction Programs,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, Grand Rapids, Michigan (June 9, 2016)
  • Labor & Benefits Executive Panel, Warner Seminar, Midland, Michigan(October 7, 2015) and Troy, Michigan (October 26, 2015)
  • “Thorny issues in retirement plans,” Empowering Women & Developing Future Leaders, Novi, Michigan (October 20, 2014)
  • Employee Benefits/Executive Compensation Panel Moderator, Labor and Benefits Executive Panel-Government Enforcement Initiatives, Midland, Michigan (September 23, 2014) and Southfield, Michigan (October 2, 2014)
  • “HR and Benefits Executive Panel,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, Midland, Michigan (October 9, 2013) and Birmingham, Michigan (October 15, 2013)
  • “How Does the Historic DOMA Decision Impact Employers?,” Michigan Chamber of Commerce Webinar (August 28, 2013)
  • “What the DOMA Decision Means for Employers,” The Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) On-Demand Seminar (July 19, 2013)
  • “6 Steps to Better Governance of Benefit Plans,” Employment Outlook & Strategy Seminar (October 2, 2012)
  • “2012 – The Year of the ERISA Fiduciary,” Warner Human Resources Seminar (May 2012)
  • “Impact of ERISA 408(b)(2) Fee Disclosures on Investment Advisers.” Warner Webinar (May 2011)
  • “2011 Fiduciary Changes – What Is An Employer To Do?,” joint Webinar with Westminster Consulting, LLC (April 12,2011)
  • “Retirement Plan Issues in Uncertain Times,” Warner Human Resources Seminar (March 2010)
  • “COBRA Subsidy Extension: What This Means For You,” Warner Webinar (January 2010)
  • “COBRA Premium Subsidy Update,” Warner Human Resources and Risk Management Mini Seminar Series (October 2009)
  • “401(k) Automatic Enrollment and the Qualified Default Investment Arrangement Rules,” Warner Human Resources Seminar (September 2008)
  • “Managing Health and Controlling Costs – A Practical Guide to Health Management Programs,” joint presentation with Buck Consultants (May 2006)
  • “Goodbye Medical Savings Accounts, Hello Health Savings Accounts, Health Reimbursement Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts,” Lorman Education Services (October 2005)
  • “The Importance of SPDs,” ALCOS (June 2005)
  • “HSAs: Fad or Fact for Motor City Employers?,”joint presentation with Mellon Human Resources and Investor Solutions (March 2005)
  • “Fiduciary Considerations of Electronic Investment Advice,” Michigan Employee Benefits Conference (March 2002)
    • Coauthor, Retirement Plan Administration Guide, Chapter 5: Duties of Pension Plan Administrators, Bloomberg, 2021
    • “Employee Benefit and Retirement Plans,” Contributing Author, Buying and Selling a Business in Michigan, Second Edition, ICLE, November 2018
      • New Edition Issued October 2022
    • Coauthor, Retirement Plan Administration Guide, Chapter 5: Duties of Pension Plan Administrators, Bloomberg, 2021
    • “Employee Benefit and Retirement Plans,” Contributing Author, Buying and Selling a Business in Michigan, Second Edition, ICLE, November 2018
      • New Edition Issued October 2022
    Image for Lisa B. Zimmer

    Lisa B.
    Zimmer

    • Partner
    lzimmer@wnj.com
    Detroit
    T 313.546.6191
    F 248.603.9791

    My admin

    Biography|
    Credentials

    industries

    practices

    • “Fiduciary Responsibilities in Today’s Regulatory Environment,” Fiducient Advisors Investors Conference, Chicago, Illinois (October 13, 2022)
    • “Warner Virtual Automotive Executive Roundtable Series: HR Challenges and Issues,” Warner Webinar, June 16, 2021
    • “The Modernized Marketing Rule,” Virtual CCO Roundtable, March 3, 2021
    • “Total Wellness Programs: Win-Win for the Employer and Employee,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, Grand Rapids, Michigan (May 7, 2019)
    • “
    • “Fiduciary Responsibilities in Today’s Regulatory Environment,” Fiducient Advisors Investors Conference, Chicago, Illinois (October 13, 2022)
    • “Warner Virtual Automotive Executive Roundtable Series: HR Challenges and Issues,” Warner Webinar, June 16, 2021
    • “The Modernized Marketing Rule,” Virtual CCO Roundtable, March 3, 2021
    • “Total Wellness Programs: Win-Win for the Employer and Employee,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, Grand Rapids, Michigan (May 7, 2019)
    • “Financial Wellness Plans,” MiTechNews.com Podcast (May 16, 2018)
    • “Benefit Plan Nondiscrimination Testing,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, Grand Rapids, Michigan (May 3, 2018)
    • “Benefits Myth Busters” and “Defined contribution Plans 101,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, Grand Rapids, Michigan (May 23, 2017)
    • “DOL Fiduciary Rule,”Michigan Bankers Association webinar (January 30, 2017)
    • “Identify and Fix the Thorny Issues in Retirement Plans,”Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) Mega Conference, Ann Arbor, Michigan (December 7, 2016)
    • “How to Attract and Retain Millennials,” Warner 2016 Labor and Benefits Executive Panel, Novi, Michigan (November 2, 2016)
    • “Correction Programs,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, Grand Rapids, Michigan (June 9, 2016)
    • Labor & Benefits Executive Panel, Warner Seminar, Midland, Michigan(October 7, 2015) and Troy, Michigan (October 26, 2015)
    • “Thorny issues in retirement plans,” Empowering Women & Developing Future Leaders, Novi, Michigan (October 20, 2014)
    • Employee Benefits/Executive Compensation Panel Moderator, Labor and Benefits Executive Panel-Government Enforcement Initiatives, Midland, Michigan (September 23, 2014) and Southfield, Michigan (October 2, 2014)
    • “HR and Benefits Executive Panel,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, Midland, Michigan (October 9, 2013) and Birmingham, Michigan (October 15, 2013)
    • “How Does the Historic DOMA Decision Impact Employers?,” Michigan Chamber of Commerce Webinar (August 28, 2013)
    • “What the DOMA Decision Means for Employers,” The Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) On-Demand Seminar (July 19, 2013)
    • “6 Steps to Better Governance of Benefit Plans,” Employment Outlook & Strategy Seminar (October 2, 2012)
    • “2012 – The Year of the ERISA Fiduciary,” Warner Human Resources Seminar (May 2012)
    • “Impact of ERISA 408(b)(2) Fee Disclosures on Investment Advisers.” Warner Webinar (May 2011)
    • “2011 Fiduciary Changes – What Is An Employer To Do?,” joint Webinar with Westminster Consulting, LLC (April 12,2011)
    • “Retirement Plan Issues in Uncertain Times,” Warner Human Resources Seminar (March 2010)
    • “COBRA Subsidy Extension: What This Means For You,” Warner Webinar (January 2010)
    • “COBRA Premium Subsidy Update,” Warner Human Resources and Risk Management Mini Seminar Series (October 2009)
    • “401(k) Automatic Enrollment and the Qualified Default Investment Arrangement Rules,” Warner Human Resources Seminar (September 2008)
    • “Managing Health and Controlling Costs – A Practical Guide to Health Management Programs,” joint presentation with Buck Consultants (May 2006)
    • “Goodbye Medical Savings Accounts, Hello Health Savings Accounts, Health Reimbursement Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts,” Lorman Education Services (October 2005)
    • “The Importance of SPDs,” ALCOS (June 2005)
    • “HSAs: Fad or Fact for Motor City Employers?,”joint presentation with Mellon Human Resources and Investor Solutions (March 2005)
    • “Fiduciary Considerations of Electronic Investment Advice,” Michigan Employee Benefits Conference (March 2002)
      • Coauthor, Retirement Plan Administration Guide, Chapter 5: Duties of Pension Plan Administrators, Bloomberg, 2021
      • “Employee Benefit and Retirement Plans,” Contributing Author, Buying and Selling a Business in Michigan, Second Edition, ICLE, November 2018
        • New Edition Issued October 2022
      • Coauthor, Retirement Plan Administration Guide, Chapter 5: Duties of Pension Plan Administrators, Bloomberg, 2021
      • “Employee Benefit and Retirement Plans,” Contributing Author, Buying and Selling a Business in Michigan, Second Edition, ICLE, November 2018
        • New Edition Issued October 2022