EILEEN M. LIU is a partner in the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practices of Sidley’s Chicago office. She also serves on the firm’s COVID-19 Task Force. Eileen advises companies of all sizes in connection with the executive compensation and employee benefits aspects of corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and financings. In addition, she represents both executives and companies in the negotiation and drafting of executive employment and separation agreements. Eileen advises clients on the design and establishment of a wide range of employee benefit arrangements such as cash and equity incentive plans, bonus, severance and retention programs, deferred compensation plans and other nonqualified retirement plans for executives and employees. She also regularly counsels clients on the establishment, management and administration of broad-based retirement and welfare benefit plans, including 401(k) plans, defined benefit plans, multiple employer plans, health plans and cafeteria plans. Clients rely on her advice regarding issues of plan design, compliance with ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code and fiduciary responsibilities.
Eileen writes and speaks frequently on executive compensation and employee benefits matters. She is recommended in The Legal 500 US 2013 and 2014 for employee benefits and executive compensation. Eileen was also recognized in the 2016–2019 editions of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Eileen received a J.D. cum laude from the Northwestern University School of Law and a B.A. with distinction from Northwestern University.