Stacey Austin is a partner at Wang Austin LLC and concentrates her practice in the area of employee benefits and executive compensation. Stacey counsels employers the legal compliance requirements applicable to their retirement plans, health and welfare benefits, and executive compensation arrangements.

Her experience encompasses a broad range of employee benefit matters, including plan document drafting, fiduciary obligations under ERISA, determination letter application filings and EPCRS correction submissions, and plan design and terminations.

Her practice also includes advising on the applicable of tax laws to fringe benefits, executive compensation, deferred compensation, and welfare benefit programs.

Education

J.D., Harvard Law School, 2004

B.S., Northwestern University, 2001

Bar Admissions

Illinois, 2004

Professional Interests and Activities

• City Elementary - Board of Directors
• Kinfolk CoLab

Prior Affiliations

• Chicago Urban League – IMPACT Leadership Development Program
• HealthConnect One - President, Board of Directors
• Harvard Law Society of Illinois - Board of Directors, Secretary and Communications Chair
• Harvard Law School Association - Vice President, Executive Committee
• Harvard Law School Women’s Alliance - President, Board of Directors
• Winston & Strawn LLP - Associate, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Department
• Black Women Lawyers Association of Chicago - Board of Directors, Recording Secretary
• CBA Alliance for Women - Executive Committee

Honors and Awards

• Illinois Super Lawyers - Top 100 Illinois Lawyers, 2023
• Illinois Super Lawyers - Top 50 Women Lawyers, 2022-2023
• Illinois Super Lawyers, 2018-2023
• Sycamore High School Hall of Fame Inductee, 2022
• Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2014
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated

Presentations/Articles

• "Creative Ways to Attract & Retain Top Talent in 2022" NAMWOLF Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL (2022)
• “The Contingent Workforce,” NAMWOLF Business Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2016)
• “Ups, Downs and Exits: Employment and Compensation Issues in the C-Suite,” 2015 MIHCA Conference, Chicago, IL (2015)
• Facilitator, Labor & Employment Roundtable, NAMWOLF Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA (2014)
• “Benefits Law for Employment Lawyers” National Employment Law Council Academy, San Francisco, CA (2014)
• “Is the Affordable Care Act Good Tax Policy?” 12th Annual Employee Benefits Symposium, John Marshall Law School, Chicago, IL (2014)
• “The Affordable Care Act: An Update,” Illinois CPA Society, Lisle, IL (2014)
• “Navigating the Affordable Care Act,” NAMWOLF Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN (2013)
• “Key Drafting Considerations for 409A and Deferred Compensation for Executives, Service Providers, and Growth Companies,” Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, IL (2013)
• “Seven Steps to a Better Retirement Plan,” Retirement Plan Education Seminar, Chicago, IL (2013)
• “Health Care Reform: What It Means For Employers,” Employment Law Breakfast Seminars, Irvine, CA (2013)
• “Equity Compensation Issues for Buyers and Sellers,” Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, IL (2011)
• “Strategies to Manage the Overregulation of Executive Compensation,” MCCA CLE Expo, Chicago, IL (2011)
• “Anatomy of a Severance Plan,” Winston & Strawn Employment Law Seminar, Chicago, IL (2009)