Overview

Megan Hladilek counsels employers, fiduciaries and service providers in employee benefits matters, helping them design and revise plans and service contracts that are both strategic and compliant.

Plan Designs, Interpretations and Corrections

Megan advises on design, governance and administration of retirement, welfare and executive employee benefit plans. She revises plan documents, policies and summary plan descriptions for legal compliance with the Internal Revenue Code, ERISA and other applicable laws.
Megan assists clients with:
  • Obtaining IRS approval of plan documents, amendments and terminations
  • Developing practical solutions regarding errors in benefit plan administration and documentation, including Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Labor (DOL) correction programs
  • Resolving benefit claims and appeals for benefits
  • Devising pension plan de-risking strategies
  • Writing plain English notices to meet disclosure requirements

Fiduciary Standards

Megan advises clients regarding:
  • Understanding fiduciary status and fiduciary duties
  • Drafting investment management agreements and fee disclosures
  • Analyzing prohibited transactions and managing investigations

Corporate Transactions

Megan supports during corporate transactions by:
  • Conducting benefits due diligence
  • Negotiating benefits and compensation terms in mergers, acquisitions and divestitures
  • Advising clients on integration of benefit plans, including plan mergers, governance and participant communications
Get to Know Megan
Why her library card is her most treasured possession

Credentials

Bar Admissions

Minnesota

Languages

French

Education

Mitchell Hamline School of Law
J.D. summa cum laude, Law Review (notes and comments editor) (2007)

Saint Norbert College
B.A. summa cum laude (2003)

Insights & Events

Other Perspectives
  • Employment and Benefits Traps for the Unwary
    Panelist with Page Fleeger (FaegreBD), Medha Johnson (American Enterprise Group) and Jayne Paquin (Target), 2017 Iowa M&A Conference, Des Moines, August 2017
  • Top 10 Concerns for 401(k) Benefit Plans
    Co-presenter with Magen Koepp (Olsen Thielen & Co.), April 2017
  • DOL Fiduciary Rule: What Plan Sponsors and Advisors Need to Know
    Co-presenter with Doug Heffernan, Minnesota CLE Conference Center, Minneapolis, February 2017
  • Scenarios Under the Fiduciary Rules and Exemptions
    Co-presenter with Doug Heffernan, Minneapolis Pension Council, October 2016
  • Twin Cities Institutional RIA Roundtable: DOL Fiduciary Definition Discussion
    Panelist with Stuart Cohen (Nuveen) and Andrew Holly (Dorsey & Whitney LLP), Minneapolis, September 2016
  • Department of Labor Fiduciary Definition Proposal Discussion
    Panelist with Jason Lipka (Principal Financial Group), Thomas Henke (Fredrickson & Byron P.A.) and Page Fleeger (Faegre Baker Daniels), Minneapolis, February 2016
  • Obergefell v. Hodges: Tax and Estate Planning Issues for Employers and Individuals
    Panelist with Professor Lee-Ford Tritt, University of Florida, Levin College of Law, and Ray Prather, Prather Ebner LLP, at ABA Section of Taxation Joint Fall Meeting, Chicago, September 2015
  • The Evolution of Marriage Equality and Employee Benefits Plans
    Co-presenter with Gayle Skolnik and Justin Kingsolver, Bloomberg BNA Webinar, August 2014
  • Post-DOMA Issues for Retirement Plans and Fringe Benefits
    Employee Benefits Institute of America Webinar, June 2014

Firm Blog Contributions

  • Spotlight on Benefits – a blog offering practical insight on legal developments which impact benefit plans

Leadership & Community

Professional Associations

  • Minnesota State Bar Association — Employee Benefits Section

Civic Activities

  • United Way — Women United Membership, Co-Chair, 2015; Women's Giving Membership, Co-Chair, 2014; WINGs Program Funding, Co-Chair, 2013; and Faegre Baker Daniels Campaign, Co-Chair, 2011-12

Firm Leadership

  • Co-leader, Retirement Plans Practice Team, 2020-present