Charles F. Plenge

Charles Plenge’s extensive knowledge and experience in all areas of employee benefits and executive compensation allows him to provide knowledgeable, practical counsel to clients, whether it involves compliance matters or other problems that arise. He also was in charge of the development and modification of the firm’s benefit plans and served as the firm’s in-house benefits counsel for many years, so he understands the business side of an employer’s benefits issues, as well.

Chuck has represented employers of all sizes in all aspects of their employee benefits needs, from health and welfare and qualified retirement plans and related ERISA fiduciary issues, to executive compensation and equity incentive programs; financial institutions in their lending activities where benefit plan issues were involved; companies involved in acquisitions and sales of businesses; as special pension counsel to parties involved in litigation relating to benefit plan matters; businesses in bankruptcy cases involving employee benefit plan issues; individuals in regard to their employment and incentive compensation agreements; and fiduciaries and investment managers for benefit plans.

Among the many matters he has handled, Chuck has represented a publicly-held utility company with the establishment of entirely new compensation programs ranging from preparing revised performance compensation plans for various employee levels to developing executive compensation arrangements for senior management and directors; advised private equity and venture capital companies regarding the establishment of benefits packages for newly acquired companies, including coordinating the activities of the outside benefits consultants and vendors with the in-house benefits staff; represented a national company in a class action lawsuit involving the status of an executive compensation plan under ERISA; and prepared governance charters for publicly-held companies' retirement committees. 

Chuck formerly served on the Graduate Employee Benefits Programs Advisory Board in The Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago and as chairman of the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities (ACT), a national committee which advises the Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division regarding the development and implementation of policies concerning the taxpayers under this Division's jurisdiction. He also has spoken extensively on all aspects of employee benefits, and has taught courses at the SMU Dedman School of Law and John Marshall Law School.

Chuck’s counsel and advice extends to his community activities as well, having served as a deacon in his church and on the board of directors of his local branch of the YMCA.