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Ms. Strelau is a Shareholder in Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. Based in the firm’s Denver office, she serves as chair of the ERISA and Employee Benefits Group where her practice focuses on employee benefits, executive compensation and ERISA litigation. Ms. Strelau’s experience encompasses the full range of employee benefits, including the design, implementation, communication, administration, amendment and termination of all types of qualified and nonqualified plans, executive compensation arrangements, equity-based compensation plans, health and welfare plans, cafeteria and flexible spending accounts, fringe benefit programs, and funding plan and asset investment arrangements. Her clients are plan sponsors that are employers at publicly-traded, closely-held and public companies; consultants; trustees; and other third-party service providers. Ms. Strelau's specific experience in employee benefits law is extensive. She advises clients regarding compliance with applicable federal law, coordination among state laws and the impact of new legislation, regulations and rulings. She provides practical solutions to technical compliance issues and the common and not-so-common problems arising from plan administration. She guides and educates plan fiduciaries as to their duties and responsibilities under ERISA. She advises clients on the benefits and compensation aspects of corporate acquisitions and divestitures and other transactions. She develops employee communications, administrative procedures and documentation. She advises plan administrators regarding responses to employee benefit claims under union and nonunion plans. Ms. Strelau also negotiates benefits issues with the IRS, DOL and PBGC and contracts with trustees, investment managers, administrative service organizations, benefit providers and insurance companies. She advises clients on stock options, restricted stock, deferred compensation and IRC 409A and 162(m) issues, and she prepares executive compensation materials for presentation to corporate boards of directors. In addition, Ms. Strelau drafts benefits-related proxy materials, board resolutions and prospectuses. She prepares required reporting and disclosure documents, and conducts required testing and securities prohibited transaction exemptions. Ms. Strelau also represents clients in employee benefits-related litigation. Ms. Strelau is currently a contributing editor to EBIA's ERISA Compliance for Health and Welfare Plans. Prior to joining the firm in 2004, Ms. Strelau was a partner at a large mid-western law firm and an associate with nationally recognized, New York- and Philadelphia-based law firms. Before going to law school, Ms. Strelau was an employee benefits professional at an international consulting firm and a public utility company. | 