Bonita has over twenty-five (25) years of large international law firm experience serving as outside HR Compliance, ERISA and Benefits counsel to national corporations, public sector entities, growth and middle-market companies, jointly-trusteed funds, as well as entrepreneurs in every major industry group, including a national retailer, educational institutions, philanthropic organizations and individuals on employee benefits matters.
For the duration of Bonita’s career, she has served as counsel to human resources personnel, providing advice on general labor and employment law and employee benefits issues. Her practice involves providing guidance on and practice before both Federal and State law regulatory agencies on employment issues, including the laws enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Illinois Human Rights Commission, the Illinois Department of Labor and other State agencies nation-wide.
She regularly designs and writes union and non-union tax-qualified multi-formula plans established under Sections 401(a), 401(k), 403(b), 457(b)/(f) of the Code, nonqualified plans subject to Section 409A of the Code, health and welfare arrangements, severance and executive compensation plans, other compensatory arrangements, and service provider agreements. Bonita advises plan sponsors on regulatory changes and amends employee benefit plans to comply with current law, to reflect discretionary design changes, and pursuant to collective bargaining.
Bonita negotiates service provider agreements, investment management agreements, subscription agreements, other investment instruments, and represents employers and investment advisors in connection with regulatory examinations. She also represents employers in the employee benefits aspects of corporate transactions, designs the employee benefits strategy, conducts benefits due diligence, provides advice on benefits integration issues and coordinates and monitors service provider performance.