Nancy A. Strelau

Shareholder

Background

Highly regarded employee benefits and executive compensation attorney. Successful track record helping organizations structure their benefits programs to support business, retention and incentive goals. Thorough, practical, effective and solution-oriented approach.

Nancy Strelau’s practice focuses on employee benefits, executive compensation and ERISA litigation. Her experience encompasses the full range of employee benefits, including the design, implementation, communication, administration, amendment and termination of all types of qualified plans (401(k), ESOP and pension plans), non-qualified plans, executive compensation arrangements, equity-based compensation plans, severance, health and welfare plans, cafeteria and flexible spending accounts, fringe benefit programs, and funding and asset investment arrangements. Her clients are plan sponsors that are publicly-traded and closely-held companies; governmental and tax-exempt entities, consultants, trustees and other third-party service providers.

Nancy 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, mergers and divestitures and other corporate and financial transactions. She develops employee communications, administrative procedures and documentation. She advises, and has represented in court, plan administrators regarding employee benefit claims under union and nonunion plans.

Nancy advises clients on stock options, restricted stock, deferred compensation and IRC 409A issues, and she prepares executive compensation materials for presentation to corporate boards of directors and for inclusion in proxy materials and prospectuses. On behalf of her clients, Nancy negotiates benefits issues with the IRS, DOL and PBGC and contracts with trustees, investment managers, administrative service organizations, benefit providers and insurance companies. She prepares required reporting and disclosure documents, conducts required testing and secures prohibited transaction exemptions. Nancy also represents clients in employee benefits-related litigation. 

Practices:

Industries:

Representative Matters

  • Counsel to MGM Resorts in its $825 million sale of the Circus Circus Hotel Casino and Festival Grounds to an affiliate of businessman Phil Ruffin.
  • Employee benefits counsel to Pioneer Group in the sale of Bronco Billy’s Casino and Hotel in Cripple Creek, Colorado.
  • Counsel to closely-held real estate investment company (REIT) in the design of an investment proceeds sharing program to be exempt from IRC 409.
  • Counsel to an oil gas company in the establishment and design of an ERISA-compliant and IRC 409A-exempt severance compensation program in connection with reduction in force.
  • Counsel to a publicly-traded employer on corrections of delinquent distributions from nonqualified deferred compensation plan in accordance with IRC 409A correction procedures.
  • Employee benefits counsel to Encore Consumer Capital in its acquisition of Full Sail Brewing Company, a craft brewery located in Oregon.

Insights & Publications

Insights & Publications

Credentials

Education

  • J.D., 1992, Temple University Beasley School of Law
  • B.A., 1981, Muhlenberg College

Admissions

  • Colorado
  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania

Memberships

American Bar Association, Tax Section, RPTE Section

International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans

National Association of Stock Plan Professionals

Colorado Women’s Bar Association

Community Involvement

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

Former Board Member, Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine

Former Board Member, Colorado AIDS Project

Former Board Member, Colorado St. Bernard Rescue, Inc.

Former Board Member, Western Pension Benefits Conference, Denver Chapter, 1998-2005

Recognition

AWARDS:

“Nancy is the strongest lawyer around.” – Chambers USA, 2023

“She provides excellent, clear advice on benefits issues. She is detail-oriented and thorough but also takes the time to think through a client’s business goals to find solutions that are practical and effective.” – Chambers USA, 2018

Best Lawyers in America, 2013-2025

  • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law Lawyer of the Year, Denver, 2022

Chambers USA, 2011-2025

Colorado Super Lawyers, 2012-2022

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