Cohen & Buckmann, P.C.

Cohen & Buckmann, P.C. Cohen & Buckmann, P.C. The firm represents clients throughout North America and the world.

is a law firm that focuses on Executive Compensation, Pension & Benefits, Corporate Law, Investment Adviser Law, and Labor & Employment Law.

As part of our 10 takeaways from 10 years, we’re reflecting on lessons that have shaped how we practice law and build ou...
06/15/2026

As part of our 10 takeaways from 10 years, we’re reflecting on lessons that have shaped how we practice law and build our firm. Over the past decade, we’ve guided executives and companies through negotiations, transitions and turning points that reveal how much the early stages of a relationship can shape what follows.

Lesson #4: Pay attention to the tone of the negotiation — and trust those “bad vibes.”

Offer negotiations are the professional equivalent of a first impression. At this stage, both sides are typically on their best behavior. When the process feels thoughtful and collaborative, it often signals a strong working relationship ahead.

But when negotiations feel pushy, dismissive or unnecessarily difficult, it can be an early warning sign. Too often, executives push past those instincts because the opportunity feels too important to walk away from.

The takeaway: culture often reveals itself early. If something feels off during the negotiation process, it’s worth paying attention.

Over the years, certain causes have become woven into the fabric of our firm because they matter deeply to the people be...
06/09/2026

Over the years, certain causes have become woven into the fabric of our firm because they matter deeply to the people behind it.

Today, in honor of our Cohen & Buckmann Florida practice, we’re recognizing Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, Lauri London’s chosen cause, as part of our 10th anniversary celebration series, highlighting 10 charities that are most meaningful to our firm.

For Lauri, this cause has a personal connection through Dance Marathon at the University of Florida, a student-run organization her family has supported through their involvement at UF.

Funds raised by Dance Marathon stay local, directly benefiting UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital and helping provide critical care, treatments, research, equipment and services for children and families in Florida.

Find out more and donate here:

https://childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/

Congratulations to Sandra Cohen, Carol Buckmann and Zahava Blumenthal on their recognition in the 2026 Chambers USA Guid...
06/04/2026

Congratulations to Sandra Cohen, Carol Buckmann and Zahava Blumenthal on their recognition in the 2026 Chambers USA Guide for their work in executive compensation and employee benefits.

The firm was also ranked Band 1 for Executive Compensation: Mainly Executive Representation in New York.

“We consider ourselves lucky to do work that is both technically challenging and genuinely useful to our clients,” said co-founder and managing partner Sandra Cohen. “It’s meaningful to see Chambers recognize the team behind that work.”

Find the full 2026 guide here: https://chambers.com/legal-guide/usa-5

Many employers are reducing employee benefits as costs rise, economic uncertainty continues and the labor market shifts....
06/03/2026

Many employers are reducing employee benefits as costs rise, economic uncertainty continues and the labor market shifts.

Co-founding partner Carol Buckmann spoke with Law360 reporter Kellie Mejdrich about cutbacks, including reductions in 401(k) offerings, reducing voluntary benefits to avoid litigation and healthcare spending. She also cautioned employers not to rush to reduce 401(k) contributions.

Read the article here (subscription required): https://www.law360.com/articles/2482949/cuts-to-benefits-come-with-risks-for-employers-attys-say

Alternative investments for 401(k) plans are moving from theoretical discussion to active consideration, now that the De...
06/01/2026

Alternative investments for 401(k) plans are moving from theoretical discussion to active consideration, now that the Department of Labor has proposed a safe harbor framework for 401(k) fiduciaries evaluating plan investments, including alternative investments.

On June 10 from 3:30 - 5 p.m. ET, Carol Buckmann will join Josh Lichtenstein and Jon Reinstein of Ropes & Gray for a live New York chapter presentation and webinar with the Worldwide Employee Benefits Network examining the proposal and its implications for fiduciary decision-making.

Register here: https://www.webnetwork.org/events/webinar-alt-investments/register

Birthdays have a way of prompting reflection. To mark our 10th anniversary, we’re sharing 10 lessons from 10 years in pr...
05/26/2026

Birthdays have a way of prompting reflection. To mark our 10th anniversary, we’re sharing 10 lessons from 10 years in practice.

Lesson #3: Expect change — and make sure your plan can flex with it.

Regulatory stability can’t be assumed. Over the past decade, we’ve seen just how much the landscape can shift. Changes in presidential administrations brought waves of proposed, adopted, challenged and reintroduced rules, turning fiduciary standards into a moving target.

Navigating that uncertainty required more than technical compliance. Boards and plan sponsors have needed durable frameworks that allowed them to adapt without starting from scratch each time priorities shifted.

The takeaway applies also to building a law firm that will last: create structures that withstand change, not just the rule of the moment.

To terminate or not to terminate? That is the question when a buyer acquires a company with a 401(k) plan. The answer de...
05/21/2026

To terminate or not to terminate? That is the question when a buyer acquires a company with a 401(k) plan. The answer depends on the deal, the parties and the plans.

Buyers generally have three options: terminate the target’s plan before closing, continue it on a standalone basis after closing, or eventually merge it into the buyer’s own 401(k) plan. But as Victoria Zerjav explains, timing and transaction structure matter. If no affirmative decision is made, the default path is continuation, and unwinding that decision later can be complicated.

Read Victoria’s explanation of how to approach a target company’s 401(k) plan in an M&A transaction: https://cohenbuckmann.com/insights/what-buyers-should-do-with-a-targets-401k-plan-key-decisions-for-buyers

Plaintiffs challenging investment and fee decisions in defined contribution plans may soon face a higher bar, as the U.S...
05/13/2026

Plaintiffs challenging investment and fee decisions in defined contribution plans may soon face a higher bar, as the U.S. Supreme Court and Department of Labor are weighing how “meaningful benchmarks” should be applied in ERISA litigation.

Carol Buckmann explained in a recent Pensions & Investments article that the court could place greater emphasis on apples-to-apples comparisons when evaluating claims involving plan investments and performance. Clearer standards could curb lawsuits arising from selective performance comparisons rather than failure to follow a prudent fiduciary process.

“If there’s no meaningful benchmark, plaintiffs can cherry-pick data,” Carol said. “Lawsuits shouldn’t be fishing expeditions.”

The DOL is also proposing guidance that would encourage plan fiduciaries to compare investments against more similar benchmarks when evaluating performance and making investment decisions.

Read the article here (subscription required): https://www.pionline.com/institutional-investors/defined-contribution/pi-dol-erisa-supreme-court-alternatives-private-equity-intel-parker-hannifin/

Congratulations to Sherrone Torres, who graduated with The Atlanta Women's Foundation’s (AWF) Inspire Atlanta class of 2...
05/12/2026

Congratulations to Sherrone Torres, who graduated with The Atlanta Women's Foundation’s (AWF) Inspire Atlanta class of 2026! Sherrone and her class of 31 other corporate professional women celebrated a record-setting campaign that raised a collective $800,000 for local organizations furthering the AWF’s mission to be forces of change in the lives of women and girls in metro Atlanta.

Inspire Atlanta brings together leaders who are committed to being catalysts for change in addressing economic instability through fundraising, shared learning and meaningful connection.

This cause is especially meaningful to Sherrone, whose own experience growing up in Baltimore shaped her understanding of how access, opportunity and community support can change the trajectory of a person’s life. We’re proud to celebrate her commitment and are grateful to the AWF for advancing this important work.

Multinational companies are expanding equity incentives beyond the traditional scope of full-time executives.At the Inte...
05/11/2026

Multinational companies are expanding equity incentives beyond the traditional scope of full-time executives.

At the International Pension & Employee Benefits Lawyers Association (IPEBLA) conference in Dublin on May 19, Victoria Zerjav will join Katherine Neal of Harneys and Peter Wehner of A&O Shearman for a discussion on how companies are approaching share-based incentives for everyone from non-executive directors to influencers and digital creators.

The panel, “Executive compensation: The evolution of equity participation: from employees to influencers,” will explore the questions that come with expanding ownership models beyond traditional employee groups.

If you’ll be attending IPEBLA, be sure to catch the session on May 19 from 9:20 to 10:05 a.m. CET.

Add the panel to your schedule: https://web.cvent.com/event/a1f3e88b-cdf9-4b75-9192-6a68cf8247d6/websitePage:5465603b-bd73-499f-aa9a-e155152f0f8a?session=81d57e4d-f743-45d5-87fd-233f8ec56f1d

Address

100 Park Avenue/16th Floor
New York, NY
10017

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Cohen & Buckmann, P.C. posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category