| Biography:
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Peter Marathas is a Partner in our Boston office where he advises his corporate, not-for-profit, governmental and individual clients on matters related to executive compensation and employee benefits. Peter regularly provides assistance with matters effecting compensation of senior executives, including tax, securities law, accounting, ERISA and corporate governance issues. Peter works closely with our clients’ management teams, boards and compensation committees to develop and design appropriate executive compensation programs and to resolve legal issues confronting employers when implementing such programs. He provides practical, business-minded advice that is informed not only by the controlling legal issues but also by market realities and shareholder perceptions.
Peter negotiates and develops executive employment and severance agreements, retention and change of control agreements, SERPs, and performance (Sections 162(m)) arrangements, long- and short-term incentive arrangements, stock compensation plans and deferred compensation plans for private, public, tax-exempt and governmental entities of all sizes. He has written and spoken extensively about the non-qualified deferred compensation law under Code Section 409A (implemented by the Jobs Act of 2004). He regularly advises clients on corporate governance practices and compliance with applicable federal law, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Peter works closely with our corporate lawyers in transactions, designing and negotiating compensation and benefits provisions for both buyers and sellers.
Peter also has extensive experience dealing with qualified retirement plans such as 401(k) plans and welfare and fringe benefit arrangements. His years of experience enable him to assist his clients in managing the increasingly complex legal issues that affect their benefit plans. Peter assists his clients with issues arising under the various laws and regulations governing these types of arrangements, including ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, the Internal Revenue Code and other federal and state laws.
Peter audits plan documentation and plan operation and identifies gaps that could lead to legal or regulatory issues, and finds alternative strategies and implements appropriate measures. Peter reviews and evaluates plan design issues and develops strategies to limit their exposure to litigation through thorough and accurate documentation. In addition, Peter evaluates, negotiates and reviews vendor and administrative service contracts and agreements, and provides advice on fiduciary issues. He regularly assists clients in managing IRS and DOL audits. His experience with respect to employee benefits -- including retirement plan, welfare plan and executive compensation arrangements -- is extensive and he has assisted clients of all sizes with corporate transaction and post-transaction merger and disposition of benefit arrangements.
Peter has been recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in the practice of employee benefits and compensation on law.
Prior to joining Proskauer, Peter was a partner at a large international law firm. Before practicing law, Peter taught business and technical writing at the University of Illinois and Bradley University and was the director of non-clinical training and education for a major, not-for-profit mid-western health care corporation. He was also a Peace Corps Volunteer, where he served for two years in Ghana, West Africa.
Peter received his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law, magna cum laude, his M.A. from Bradley University, summa cum laude, and his B.A. from Bradley University, cum laude.
He is admitted to the bar in Massachusetts, Florida and Illinois (inactive).
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