Vern Saper focuses his practice in employee benefits law, representing public, privately held and professional corporations, partnerships and individuals. For many years he has specialized in the legal aspects of employee stock ownership plans. He has extensive experience in design and preparation of ESOPs and ESOP transactions of all types.

Honors And Awards

• Named the Professional Member of the Year for 2007 by the ESOP Association of American
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for more than 20 years
• Named a Super Lawyer in the 2008 edition of Michigan Super Lawyers

Bar Associations

Teaching and Lecturing

• Adjunct Professor (Employee Benefits Taxation) with Grand Valley State University’s Master of Science in Taxation Program
• Frequent speaker on employee benefits law, including speaker for seminars presented by The ESOP Association of America
• "The 'Perfect' Retirement Plan for Small Businesses," WNJ Human Resources Seminar, September 11, 2008, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• "The PPA and Defined Contribution Plans," WNJ Human Resources Seminar, May 10, 2007, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• ESOP Half-Day Workshop, cosponsored with The Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Western Michigan Chapter, October 15, 2008, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• What is an ESOP and Why Should I Care?, December 12, 2007, Southfield, Michigan

Publications

• "Do You Really Save Money Using a Prototype Retirement Plan"
• "Explanation of Different Types of Qualified Retirement Plan Documents"
• "Getting More for Less Through Innovative Defined Contribution Plan Design"
• "How to Avoid Return of Excess 401(k) Contributions"
• "New and Improved 401(k) Safe Harbor Plan"
• "New Benefits Law -- Again!"
• "Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans"
• "Participant Directed Retirement Plans Under Section 401(k)"
• "Retirement Plans for the 21st Century"
• "Use of Qualified Retirement Plans in Business Acquisition"
• "What's New and Important in Employee Benefits"
• "Employee Stock Ownership and Estate Planning for the Business Owner"

• The "Perfect" Retirement Plan for Small Businesses
• IRS Attacks 401(k) Purchase of Small Employers' Stock

Professional Affiliations

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan Association of America
  Professional Member
  
• West Michigan Pension Conference
  Co-founder
  
• National Center for Employee Ownership
  Professional Member
  

Community Affiliations

• Goodwill Industries of Grand Rapids
  Board of Directors, Past Chairman of the Board
  
• Goodwill Industries of Grand Rapids Foundation
  President and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees (2004-2006), Vice Chairperson
  

News

• 45 Warner Norcross Partners Rated Best Lawyers in America
• 47 Warner Norcross Attorneys Recognized as Super Lawyers