Allison Wilkerson is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and is based in the Firm’s Dallas office. She focuses her practice on employee benefits matters.
Allison has extensive experience handling matters pertaining to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). With respect to ERISA, Allison focuses on compliance issues and the Internal Revenue Code related to employee benefits, including qualified plans, nonqualified plans, and executive and deferred compensation. She advises employers on the design, implementation, and administration of tax qualified retirement plans and nonqualified retirement plans, providing guidance as to administrative and operational matters relating to such plans, and assisting in plan correction through various benefit plan correction programs offered by both the Department of Labor and Internal Revenue Service. Allison has also advised employers with respect to issues raised in connection with corporate mergers, acquisitions and divestitures as they relate to the various benefit plans maintained by the affected corporate entity or entities.
Allison’s ESOP practice focuses on the design and implementation of ESOP transactions and providing ongoing legal counsel to ESOP owned companies. She has been involved in hundreds of ESOP transactions including leveraged buy-outs, mergers, acquisitions, and the structuring and financing of ESOPs using private equity. She has advised employers on the implementation of nonqualified plans and executive compensation arrangements that complement the employee ownership structure and culture inherent in an ESOP owned company. Allison also represents independent fiduciaries in their role as purchaser in an ESOP transaction as to their legal duties with respect to their representation of ESOP participants and beneficiaries.
Allison has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America and by Super Lawyers as a leading lawyer in her field. Additionally, she is an active writer and speaker on ERISA and ESOP issues.
Allison is a member of the ESOP Association and serves as director of the ESOP Association Southwest Chapter. She is also an associate member of the Legislative & Regulatory Advisory Committee for the ESOP Association.
Allison received her J.D., with honors, in 2002 from University of Texas School of Law. She earned her B.B.A. in 1999 from Baylor University.
Allison is admitted to practice in Texas.
