People: Diane V. Dygert, Partner

Diane V. Dygert

Partner

Chicago
Direct: (312) 460-5941
Fax: (312) 460-7941
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Ms. Dygert is a partner practicing in the area of Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation. She frequently provides counsel to clients on voluntary and involuntary severance and reductions in force.  Ms. Dygert has substantial experience with both qualified and nonqualified retirement plans as well as health and welfare plans. She has counseled and trained clients extensively on HIPAA privacy compliance and helped implement compliance plans.  Ms. Dygert works with clients on establishing and conducting appropriate fiduciary compliance processes—critically important in this era of intense scrutiny.  She also focuses on executive compensation matters, including employment and severance agreements, stock options, restricted stock, and performance-based compensation.  Ms. Dygert is involved in the international aspects of employee benefits issues.

Ms. Dygert has served as an adjunct professor in the Employee Benefits Graduate Program at John Marshall Law School.  Prior to joining Seyfarth Shaw, Ms. Dygert was senior counsel at Waste Management, Inc., where she was responsible for legal review of all areas of employee benefits and executive compensation.

Ms. Dygert is a partner practicing in the area of Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation. She frequently provides counsel to clients on voluntary and involuntary severance and reductions in force.  Ms. Dygert has substantial experience with both qualified and nonqualified retirement plans as well as health and welfare plans. She has counseled and trained clients extensively on HIPAA privacy compliance and helped implement compliance plans.  Ms. Dygert works with clients on establishing and conducting appropriate fiduciary compliance processes—critically important in this era of intense scrutiny.  She also focuses on executive compensation matters, including employment and severance agreements, stock options, restricted stock, and performance-based compensation.  Ms. Dygert is involved in the international aspects of employee benefits issues.

Ms. Dygert has served as an adjunct professor in the Employee Benefits Graduate Program at John Marshall Law School.  Prior to joining Seyfarth Shaw, Ms. Dygert was senior counsel at Waste Management, Inc., where she was responsible for legal review of all areas of employee benefits and executive compensation.

Education

  • J.D., University of Michigan Law School (1987)
  • B.S., Cornell University (1984)

Admissions

  • Illinois

Affiliations

  • American Bar Association (Section of Taxation)
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Society of Corporate Secretaries & Governance Professionals

Presentations

  • “401(k) Plan Investment and Administration Issues,” PLI's Pension Plan Investments 2012 Conference (April 3, 2012)
  • “Final Deferred Compensation Regulations,” 26th Annual Federal Tax Institutes Chicago-Kent College of Law (May 3-4, 2007)
  • “Final Deferred Compensation Regulations,” Worldwide Employee Benefits—Chicago Chapter (May 23, 2007)

Publications

  • “Pension Issues in Mergers & Acquisitions,” Acquisition International (December 2011)
  • “Retirement Plan Distributions Under the United States Tax Treaties,” 10 Journal of Pension Benefits 2 (Winter 2003)
  • “Self-Directed Brokerage Accounts and ERISA’s Fiduciary Requirements:  A Workable Approach,” 9 Journal of Pension Benefits 2 (Winter 2002)

Awards

  • Illinois Super Lawyer
  • Leading Lawyer

The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and no certificate, award or recognition is a requirement to practice law in Illinois