George L. Chimento

Practice Focus and Experience

George Chimento is a tax and labor lawyer practicing in the Compensation and Benefits, Employment, and Trusts and Estates areas. He focuses on ERISA, benefits, and compensation for public, private, and non-profit entities, and on estate planning for owners and officers. Represented industries include higher education, hospital, physician care, mutual and credit union banking, commercial fishing, uniform services, governmental public transit, legal services, and material suppliers.

As a former federal regulator, and with more than 30 years of private practice, George helps employers and fiduciaries to comply with ERISA and the multi-agency system of regulating employee benefits and executive compensation. He also testifies and submits comments to government agencies, encouraging them to eliminate unnecessary burdens on employers.

George conducts periodic educational seminars for human resources officers on various topics that are necessary for compliance with federal and Massachusetts rules. He also writes frequently about subjects in the field, and keeps clients posted on relevant developments.

George has practiced as a partner with major law and actuarial firms in Boston since 1982 and was previously Special Counsel to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in Washington, DC.

Representative Matters

• ESOPS and other benefit plans, including self-insured health arrangements, cafeteria plans (including Massachusetts 125 plans), 401(k) and defined benefit plans, and 409A SERPs and other executive compensation arrangements.
• Processes to assist fiduciaries in the selection of plan investments, including non-traded investments limited to accredited investors.
• Benefit plan audits, and remedial relief through IRS and Department of Labor procedures.
• Exemptions from the Department of Labor to permit related party transactions with benefit plans.
• Representation of plan sponsors in disputes related to benefit claims and representation of participants in cases which he considers to have special merit.

Professional

• Distinctions: Peer review "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest bestowed rating.
• Admitted: Massachusetts; New Hampshire; Rhode Island.
• Member: Boston, New Hampshire, and American Bar Associations.

Publications and Speaking Engagements

• Massachusetts Finally Authorizes Second Chance Elections for Mini-Cobra
• Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Takes Tough Stance on Vacation Pay
• Summary of the New COBRA Stimulus Rules (as of April 6, 2009)
• 2009 Version of the Employee HIRD Form
• Massachusetts Will Tax Unincorporated Owners and Partners
  on 401(k)
• The IRS Blinks, and Everyone "Wins:" The Problems With Another 409A Extension
• The Supreme Court Rules for LaRue
• Testimony to Massachusetts Government: Simplify The HIRD Form
• Massachusetts May Tax Unincorporated Owners and Partners on 401(k)
• New IRS Wash-Sale Rule is Applicable to IRAs and Other Accounts
• The New and Improved HIRD Form For 2008
• More Rules for Massachusetts Health Care
• More Health Care Reporting for Massachusetts Employers
• New DHS Safe Harbor Regulations in Case You Get a "No Match" Letter
• HIRD Form Update: Hola And Bom Día
• HIRD Form Procedures
• The Pension Protection Act Of 2006
• Adding a Roth Account to Your 401(k) Plan
• A New "Use It Or Lose It" Rule for Cafeteria Plans
• Action Required To Avoid 409A Penalties
• The Bankruptcy Law and its Effect on Tax-Favored Funds
• Cash-Out Rules Change On March 28, 2005
• Round Table Discussion With IRS on Benefits Issues
• Saving More Than 403(b) Allows With Section 457(b)
• COBRA Regulations and Sample Forms
• Planning for Same-Sex Marriages in Massachusetts

• Back to George's Brief Bio