Experience
Sheldon H. Smith, a partner at Holme Roberts & Owen LLP, practices in the Compensation and Benefits Practice Group. Mr. Smith has distinguished himself as a true counselor and advisor to his clients, many of whom have remained loyal for over thirty years. Priding himself on learning about every client's business in order to provide the best practical legal advice possible, Mr. Smith builds client trust; clients seek his advice on complex matters knowing they will obtain a reasoned analysis and viable suggestions on how best to proceed from a pragmatic legal perspective. With his combination of employee benefits planning, compliance and design skills and a highly successful litigation background, Mr. Smith helps clients both limit their liability and accomplish their business objectives.
More specifically, Mr. Smith works closely with his clients to design and assist with the implementation and operation of pension benefit plans and equity-based compensation plans. He advises his clients with regard to fiduciary duties, performs fiduciary duty compliance audits on employee benefit plans, ERISA aspects of corporate transactions, and represents clients before the IRS, Department of Labor, and the PBGC. Further, Mr. Smith defends his clients in ERISA and benefits, tax, and probate litigation. Mr. Smith has benefits experience with the public, private, and governmental sectors.
Mr. Smith continues to educate other professionals, both within and outside of the legal sector, and has done so for the past 30 years. As an in-demand speaker and presenter, he has presented numerous seminars and given speeches in most states to many diverse professional groups, such as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, more than 30 different state societies of CPAs, the National Tax Institute, The University of Denver, Western Pension & Benefits Conference, America Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA), IACEBS, the Golden Gate Chapter of the California Society of Enrolled Agents, the College for Financial Planning, Financial Planners Association, Thomson Reuters, and banking and insurance organizations. Mr. Smith has been on the adjunct or visiting faculty at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law where he currently teaches courses on ERISA. A number of Mr. Smith’s video recorded courses on employee benefits are available from Bisk Education at www.CPEasy.com. In addition, Mr. Smith is a prolific writer of articles and course materials in his practice area.
Professional & Community Affiliations
American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, Fellow
Regional Cabinet of Washington University, St. Louis, Chair
Adjunct/Visiting Faculties, University of Denver Law School, thirty-one year member
Super Lawyers, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Martindale-Hubbell - AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5
President of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA)
Past President, Western Pension & Benefits Conference
Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
The Best Lawyers in America
Who’s Who in American Law
Who’s Who in American Education
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