Richard L. Alpern

New York, NY

Richard L. Alpern is a Principal in the New York City office of the executive compensation consulting firm of Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. He previously was a special counsel in the Executive Compensation and Benefits Group of Sullivan & Cromwell where he practiced law for 24 years. He began his career as an “ERISA” lawyer while at a small New York City law firm a few weeks after ERISA was signed into law on September 2, 1974 by President Ford. From the initial focus on tax-qualified retirement plans and multiemployer pension plans, Rich expanded his practice into employee benefit plan aspects of merger and acquisitions, equity plans, employment agreements, change in control severance plans and agreements, and the many legal issues affecting executive compensation. There have been a never ending stream of laws, regulations and guidance affecting employee benefits lawyers in the more than 35 years since Rich became an ERISA lawyer. To the other Fellows, both young and old, thank you for your courtesy, curiosity, intelligence and even some laughter about the great ride that we have had in what has become far more than the narrow practice area as it was characterized by outsiders for years.

Photo Source: The Decade Book, American College of Employee Benefits Counsel 2000-2010