Natalie Welsh represents not-for-profit, public and private sector employers on a wide range of employee benefits matters. She advises employers with respect to compliance, correction alternatives and plan design. In addition to employers, Natalie represents financial institutions that provide services to retirement plans.
Increasingly, clients are focusing on the welfare side of their benefits programs. Natalie advises clients on the design and administration of their welfare benefits, cafeteria plans and wellness programs and incentives. She has utilized her experience in local government administration to advise numerous public sector clients with respect to establishing trusts (frequently referred to as "OPEB" trusts) to fund retiree medical obligations.
Natalie has conducted seminars on a variety of topics including Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the impact of the final regulations on 403(b) plans maintained by certain not-for-profit entities and schools.
- Senator Joseph Clark Scholar in Public Leadership, University of Pennsylvania
- Phi Beta Kappa, Beta of Virginia
- American Bar Association
- Connecticut Bar Association
- Town of East Granby Board of Finance (1999-2008); Vice-Chair (2004-2008)
- Town of East Granby Charter Commission (2004-2006)
Fortune 100 Health Insurer
Serve as outside employee benefits counsel for over a decade to a Fortune 100 leading provider of health benefits. One notable project involved redesign of future pension benefits and restatement of the company’s defined benefit cash balance plan to reflect, among other design changes, a cash balance formula. Also regularly counsel the company with respect to its 401(k) plan, VEBAs, severance plan and required filings (Forms 990 and 5500).
Fortune 1000 Manufacturer
Serve as outside employee benefits counsel to a large manufacturer of interconnect products (e.g., fiber optic connectors, cable and interconnect systems) with respect to pension and employee benefits matters, including a defined benefit plan with multiple subplans, a number of 401(k) plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans and health and welfare arrangements. Recently advised on a “soft-freeze” of pension benefits and enhancements to the 401(k) plan and deferred compensation program.