Biography

Mr. Karelitz is an associate in the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Department of Seyfarth Shaw LLP.  He regularly works with qualified retirement plans and health and welfare plans for union and non-union employees, as well as executive compensation arrangements.  Mr. Karelitz also participates in the Firm’s pro bono program.

Qualified Retirement Plans: Mr. Karelitz assists clients with the implementation, administration and termination of traditional pension and 401(k) plans.  Mr. Karelitz also has advised clients regarding the correction of plan operational errors through self correction and the IRS’ Voluntary Compliance Program.  Mr. Karelitz routinely amends qualified retirement plans and has authored summary plan descriptions and other participant communications.

Executive Compensation: Mr. Karelitz advises employers and executives regarding cash and equity incentive compensation, change in control, and executive severance arrangements.  Mr. Karelitz also has drafted and amended employment agreements.  A significant part of his executive compensation work involves designing executive compensation arrangements to comply with Code Sections 409A (relating to nonqualified deferred compensation) and 162(m) (limiting tax deductions for compensation paid to senior officers).  Mr. Karelitz also has knowledge of the SEC proxy disclosure rules.

Health & Welfare Plans: Mr. Karelitz has experience designing and drafting health and welfare arrangements and writing participant communications, including summary plan descriptions.  He regularly advises employers regarding issues arising in the day-to-day administration of welfare plans, including compliance with federal laws (such as ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA and USERRA) and state health care mandates.  In addition, Mr. Karelitz has assisted clients in implementing fringe benefit programs such as educational assistance programs and qualified transportation benefit programs.

Education

LL.M., John Marshall Law School (2007, with honors)

J.D., Indiana University School of Law – Bloomington (2005)

CALI Award in Employee Benefits Law; Notes Editor, Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies; Top Brief Writer, Sherman Minton Moot Court Competition

B.A., Northwestern University (2002)

Admissions

• Illinois