Andy Wang is a partner at Wang Austin LLC and advises public and private companies on the design, implementation, administration, and compliance issues that arise in connection with all types of employee benefits plans, including retirement plans, equity-based compensation plans, incentive plans, health and welfare benefit plans, and executive compensation arrangements.

Andy also has represented clients on matters before the IRS and the U.S. Department of Labor involving determination letter submissions, plan corrections, audits, and penalty assessments.

Andy has significant experience handling the employee benefits and executive compensation aspects of different types of corporate transactions. He has represented:

• public and private buyers and sellers in a variety of mergers and acquisitions;
• lenders and borrowers on the employee benefit provisions in credit agreements;
• companies drafting employment agreements and designing executive compensation and equity-based arrangements in initial public offerings and spin-off transactions; and
• management teams and employers in negotiating executive compensation arrangements in buy-out transactions.

Andy has extensive experience with the HIPAA privacy and security rules.

Prior to founding Wang Austin, Andy was a partner in the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation department of Winston & Strawn LLP, where he worked for over 11 years. Prior to Winston & Strawn, Andy worked in the Office of the Solicitor of the United States Department of Labor, where he handled litigation enforcing violations of ERISA’s fiduciary duty and prohibited transactions requirements stemming from DOL investigations.

Education

J.D., Northwestern University School of Law, 1994

B.A. University of Michigan, 1991

Bar Admissions

Illinois

Professional Interests and Activities

• Asian-American Bar Association of Greater Chicago Law Foundation, Vice President
• Chinese-American Bar Association of Greater Chicago, Advisory Board Member
• Illinois State Bar Association
• Asian-American Bar Association of Greater Chicago
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

Honors and Awads

• Illinois Super Lawyers, 2016-2023
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated

Presentations/Articles

• “Closing the Deal: How to Spot and Handle the Top Employee Benefits Issues in an M&A Transaction,” NAMWOLF Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA (2014)
• “Department of Labor (DOL) Audit and Enforcement Updates,” Illinois CPA Society (2013)
• “Annual Legislative & Regulatory Update,” Worldwide Employee Benefits Network, Chicago West Chapter, Lisle, IL (2012)
• “Compensation and Benefits Issues for Executives of Private Companies,” Sixth Annual Executive Compensation Institute, Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, IL (2012)
• “Small Plan Employer Compliance,” Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, IL (2012)
• “Equity Compensation Issues for Buyers and Sellers,” Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, IL (2011)
• “Surviving a 401(k) DOL Audit,” Edgewater and West Ridge Chambers of Commerce and the Rogers Park Business Alliance, Chicago, IL (2011)
• “Year-End Action Items for Changes in Compensation and Benefit Law,” Winston & Strawn LLP eLunch Briefings (2009)
• “Benefit Law Changes Under the New Administration,” Winston & Strawn LLP eLunch Briefings (2009)
• “Could You Have Done A Better Job with 409A?” Winston & Strawn LLP Employment Law Seminar, Chicago, IL (2008)
• “What is Behind the Surge in ERISA Litigation – And How Can We Avoid It,” Winston & Strawn LLP Employment Law Seminar, Chicago, IL (2004)
• “ERISA Litigation,” Winston & Strawn LLP Employment Law Seminar, Chicago, IL (2003)
• “The Pros and Cons of IRS Golden Parachute Proposals,” with Michael S. Melbinger, Journal of Deferred Compensation, Winter 2003
• “Not Too Late to Comply With the HIPAA Privacy Rules,” Winston & Strawn LLP eLunch Briefings (2003)
• “Compliance with the HIPAA Privacy Rules – the Deadline Looms,” Winston & Strawn LLP Employment Law Seminar, Chicago, IL (2002)
• “The Final HIPAA Privacy Rules Are Out: Now it is Our Turn to Act,” Winston & Strawn LLP eLunch Briefings (2002)
• “Protecting Yourself from the Tax on Excess Parachute Payments,” with Michael S. Melbinger, Compensation & Benefits Management, Spring 2002