William E. Mason, Esq.

WILLIAM E. (BILL) MASON practices in two areas: ERISA/pensions & employee benefits; and technology transfer & commercialization.

Pension & Employee Benefits

Bill Mason provides assistance with the design, documentation, administration, audit, litigation, termination and qualification of all employee health and welfare and pension plans for both public and private employers. He counsels with Plan fiduciaries on ERISA and state law obligations, 401(k), Cafeteria (125), ESOPs, Profit-Sharing, Defined Benefit Pension, 403(b) (tax sheltered annuity), nonqualified deferred compensation (including 457 and 409A), supplemental executive retirement, stock options and stock appreciation rights, health, life insurance, disability insurance, auto leasing, and day care assistance plans. The Firm sponsors various prototype retirement plans. Mr. Mason represents clients before various agencies involved in employee benefit regulation, including the IRS and its Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System, Department of Labor and PBGC. He also deals with COBRA, Immigration and Naturalization Service compliance, EEO compliance planning, Fair Labor Standards Act compliance and audit, employee handbooks, employee terminations, layoffs, and disciplinary action, and all aspects of the employer-employee relationship.

Technology Transfer & Commercialization.

Mr. Mason also provides legal services addressing intellectual property licenses and options, material transfer agreements, inter-institutional agreements, non-disclosure agreements, technology demonstration project agreements and management, operating and grant agreements, and research funding and agreements. He assists with the organization, maintenance, reorganization, redemptions, and liquidation of business entities, corporations, and partnerships arising out of technology transactions. Additionally, he works on the organization and application to the IRS for 501(c)(3) tax exempt determinations related to technology transfer.

Bill Mason has practiced law for over 35 years. He worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority from 1974-1986, Wagner Myers & Sanger PC, from 1986-1988, and William E. Mason PC, from 1988-2009. He joined Kennerly Montgomery in 2009. He is a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist, 1993, and Fellow, by examination, 1994 and 1995. He is a frequent speaker at regional professional meetings on pension and employee benefits topics, and he is the Chair of the Hillcrest Healthcare Board of Directors.

Areas of Practice

• Employee Benefits

Education

• Harvard Law School – J.D. 1974
• University of Illinois – B.S. 1970

Bar Admissions

• Tennessee – 1986
• U.S. Supreme Court, Eastern District of Tennessee – 1990
• U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals – 1986

Memberships

• Tennessee Bar Association
• Knoxville Bar Association
• American Bar Association

 

Practicing: General Business and Corporate Law, Municipal and Governmental Law, Estate Planning