Photo of Douglas S. Neville

Douglas S. Neville

Officer

"Legal issues in employee benefits are driven by changes in the law. When changes like health care reform happen, we help employers by reviewing plans to make sure they’re in compliance, as well as answering the inevitable day-to-day questions.”

Admissions

  • Missouri

Education

J.D., University of Missouri School of Law, 1996
B.S.B.A., University of Richmond, 1991

Profile

Doug Neville’s practice focuses on helping employers with benefits planning, assisting with design and compliance and reviewing plans that may be affected by changes in the law. He works with private and public employers on executive compensation plans, non-qualified and qualified compensation plans and health and welfare plans.  Doug is the leader of the firm's Employee Benefits Practice Group.

Doug has extensive experience in representing tax-exempt organizations, including those with religious affiliations, and has a deep understanding of the specialized issues related to those employers. With all clients, he provides assistance on day-to-day issues as well as compliance with changing regulations on health care, non-qualified plans and other issues.

In the area of executive compensation, Doug helps employers set up compensation structures including incentive plans, supplemental executive retirement plans, stock-based compensation packages and fringe benefits. He is skilled in balancing clients’ business objectives with complex tax and regulatory requirements.

Doug also has extensive experience working with Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). When a business owner wants to create an ESOP to shift ownership interests to employees, Doug can assist with the process from start to finish. He has spoken across the country on trends and developments affecting ESOPs.

In connection with Department of Labor and Internal Revenue Service audits, Doug leads negotiations on behalf of the employer to reach a favorable solution. In addition, when a plan participant disagrees with a benefits-related decision, Doug can assist the employer through the appeal process, ensuring they handle the matter in a way the courts will view as fair if a lawsuit is filed later.  

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
  • Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
  • Employee Benefits Association of St. Louis
  • The ESOP Association, Heart of America Chapter
  • National Center for Employee Ownership
  • American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA), Gateway St. Louis chapter
  • Society for Human Resource Management
  • International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans

Honors & Awards

Honors & Awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, 2020-2024

News & Insights

News

Seminars & Speaking Engagements

  • "Topics in Compensation and Benefits – 2015 Reporting Requirements"
    AAIM Roundtable Presentation, St. Louis, Missouri, June 9, 2015
  • "ESOPs in Ownership Succession Planning"
    National Business Institute Business Ownership Succession Planning seminar, June 2015
  • "Real World Issues for Mature ESOPs"
    ESOP Association Heart of America Chapter Spring Seminar, St. Louis, Missouri, April 15, 2015
  • "Designing an ESOP to Fit Your Culture"
    NCEO's Employee Ownership Conference, Denver, Colorado, April 2015
  • "Corporate Governance Transitions"
    ESOP Association Heart of America Chapter Fall Seminar, Kansas City, Missouri, September 4, 2014
  • "Timing of 401(k) Plan Amendments"
    401(k) Advisor, August 2014
  • "The Affordable Care Act and Immigration Policy, Law and Regulations: Addressing Rapid Changes in Government Regulation"
    International Franchise Association 47th Annual Legal Symposium, Chicago, Illinois, May 2014
  • "Current ESOP Trends"
    ESOP Association Heart of America Chapter Spring Seminar, St. Louis, Missouri, April 17, 2014
  • Discussion co-leader, “Effect of Windsor on Employee Benefit Plans, Including Retirement Plans, Welfare Plans, COBRA and FMLA; Recent Guidance from the IRS and Department of Labor,” “Department of Labor and Internal Revenue Service Audits”
    “Multiemployer Plans and Withdrawal Liability Issues, Including Controlled Group Liability”
    The Group Western Regional Meeting, Park City, Utah, October 2013
  • Discussion co-leader, “Moench Repeal,” “IRS Pilot Test Program for Late Form 5500-EZ Filers/ID Numbers for Self-Funded Plans” and “Windsor Issues"
    The Group Western Regional Meeting, Mackinac Island, Michigan, September 2013
  • “ESOP Company Transactions – Mergers, Acquisitions & Second-Stage Transactions"
    ESOP Association Heart of America Chapter Fall Seminar, Kansas City, Missouri, August 22, 2013
  • "Legal Update: Recent Developments Affecting Your ESOP"
    ESOP Association Heart of America Chapter Spring Seminar, St. Louis, Missouri, April 16, 2013
  • "Leadership Development and Management Succession"
    ESOP Association Heart of America Chapter Fall Seminar, Kansas City, Missouri, August 22, 2012
  • "Corporate Governance in an ESOP-Owned Company"
    ESOP Association Heart of America Chapter Fall Seminar, Kansas City, Missouri, August 24, 2011
  • "The DOL Investigation Process"
    ESOP Association Heart of America Chapter Spring Seminar, St. Louis, Missouri, April 27, 2011
  • "Employee Benefits Legal Update"
    St. Louis Chapter of Certified Employee Benefits Specialists, Frontenac, Missouri, November 9, 2010
  • "Overview of Health Care Reform"
    Meritas Western Regional Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado, September 24, 2010
  • "ESOP Sustainability, Repurchase Obligation Planning and Corporate Governance"
    ESOP Association Heart of America Chapter Fall Seminar, Kansas City, Missouri, August 26, 2010
  • "ARRA COBRA Subsidy"
    ADP Webinar, March 2009
  • "Health Benefits"
    Missouri Bankers Association, November 16, 2006
  • "Employee Benefits for Non-Benefits Lawyers and Other Professionals"
    Employee Benefits Section, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, May 25, 2006
  • "What Lawyers Need to Know About Code § 409A (and Why)"
    Meritas Labor and Employment Section, Meritas Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada, April 20, 2006
  • "Employee Benefits in Mergers and Acquisitions"
    Employee Benefits Section, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, January 26, 2006

Publications

Articles & Books

  • Distributing Assets When an Unrelated Employer Leaves a Multiple Employer 401(k) Plan
    401(k) Advisor, February 2022
  • "Multiemployer Pension Plan Withdrawal Liability" 
    Employee Relations Law Journal, Winter 2016
  • "Employee Stock Ownership Plans in Succession Planning"
    Employee Benefit Plan Review, September 2016
  • "Taking the Plunge: ERISA § 3(38) Investment Managers for 401(k) Plans"
    401(k) Advisor, August 2015
  • "Back to Basics: Identifying and Fulfilling Fiduciary Duties"
    401(k) Advisor, June 2015
  • "A Rebate … Great! Now What?"
    401(k) Advisor, April 2015
  • "Increasing Employee Participation in 401(k) Plans: Q & A"
    401(k) Advisor, November 1, 2014
  • "Common 401(k) Administration Errors"
    401(k) Advisor, April 2014
  • "Code Section 410(b) Minimum Coverage Requirements"
    401(k) Advisor, March 2014
  • "Minimum Participation Standards, Part II"
    401(k) Advisor, January 1, 2014
  • "Minimum Participation Standards, Part I"
    401(k) Advisor, December 2013
  • "Businesses Need to Address Withdrawal Liability Burdens"
    Southern Business Journal, July 1, 2012
  • "New COBRA Rules:  ARRA You Ready?"
    Small Business Monthly, April 2009
  • "Difficult Economic Times: Ten Steps for Fiduciaries"
    The St. Louis Bar Journal, Winter 2009

Newsletters

Blog Posts

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