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michael-f-harris

Michael F. Harris

Michael Harris represents proprietorships, family-owned corporations, middle-market companies, Fortune 500 companies, non-profit and religious organizations, and government entities.

Michael counsels executives, in-house attorneys, plan administrators, and boards of directors regarding employee benefit and welfare plan issues, executive compensation, stock option plans, and deferred compensation arrangements. He has a wide range of experience in amending and restating qualified plans, providing guidance regarding the administration and operation of qualified and welfare benefit plans, correcting operational problems of plans, terminating and merging plans, Section 409A compliance for deferred compensation plans, as well as providing advice to plan fiduciaries regarding their obligations under ERISA. He has experience with ESOPs, defined benefit, profit sharing, money purchase, governmental plans, and 401(k) plans, as well as 403(b) and 457 plans maintained by tax-exempt employers. Michael has assisted clients in defending both IRS and Department of Labor audits of their retirement plans and in responding to administrative claims for benefits by participants. He has considerable experience in “due diligence” review of welfare and qualified plans in the context of corporate transactions, including stock and asset purchase, sale, merger, joint venture, and spin-off transactions.

Michael worked as a corporate attorney in a large national corporation for two years, which brings an “in house” attorney perspective to his practice. He is admitted to the Ohio Bar and the United States Tax Court.

Education
Georgetown University (LL.M., 1980)
Case Western Reserve University School of Law (J.D., 1977)
University of Michigan (B.A., with honors, 1974)
State Admissions
Ohio, 1977
Federal Admissions
United States Tax Court
Service Areas
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Tax Services
ERISA Litigation
ESOP
Corporate Governance
Financial Services
Hospitality
Corporate Law
Industries Represented
Accounting Firms
Computers & Electronics
Consulting
Elementary & Secondary Schools
Fabricated Metal Products
Franchisees
Funds & Trusts
Government
Hospitals
Insurance Brokers
Legal Services (Law Firms)
Medical Professionals (Doctors & Nurses)
Nonprofit Organizations
Nursing & Residential Care Facilities
Private Households & Individuals
Religious Organizations
Steel Distribution

Speaking Engagements

  • “Who Benefits from Tax and ERISA Reviews in M&A Transactions?”, 2023 Business Law Institute on Corporate Law and M&A, Tucker Ellis LLP (January 2023)
  • “A 360-Degree Review of ERISA Issues,” Roundtable Discussion, Ohio State Bar Association, Cleveland, Ohio (July 2015)
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (2012–2025)
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association