As Co-Chair of Shumaker's Hospitality, Leisure & Sports Industry Sector, Bennett has built a practice counseling elite college and professional coaches, athletic directors, and conference commissioners, as well as executives in the sports and entertainment industry. Working collaboratively with agents, financial advisors, and accountants, Bennett structures contracts to achieve future financial security through tax efficient compensation, including appropriately designed deferred compensation arrangements, and ensuring contracts provide well-considered protections given the uncertainties of the industry. Clients rely on Bennett for advice developing and implementing estate plans and philanthropic objectives, and participating in outside business ventures.
Additionally, Bennett focuses his practice on employee benefits law and executive compensation. He is regularly involved in:
- Advising plan sponsors, as well as fiduciaries, regarding the legal and tax issues involved with the design and administration of various types of benefit plans, including qualified retirement plans, non-qualified plans, and other executive compensation arrangements
- Employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), cafeteria plans, health and other welfare benefit plans, including drafting of plans
- Advising a wide variety of plan sponsors, including corporate/institutional employers, entrepreneurial businesses, professional service firms, closely held and family business owners, and joint boards of trustees (Taft Hartley plans), as well as tax-exempt organizations and governmental employers
- Representing plan sponsors and fiduciaries before the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Department of Labor, which regulate the administration of employee benefit plans
Prior to his legal career, Bennett was a tax consultant Ernst & Whinney (n/k/a Ernst & Young LLP) in Cleveland, where his responsibilities included tax planning and compliance for executives, business owners, tax exempt organizations, and a professional sports franchise. Bennett frequently speaks to professional and industry groups regarding employee benefits and related tax planning.
Education
J.D., The University of Toledo College of Law, 1985
B.A., Economics, Miami University, 1982
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association, Entertainment and Sports Industry Forum
- Sports Lawyers Association
- International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Honors
- Best Lawyers in America, 2023 – 2024
- Toledo Business Journal, "Who's Who in Toledo Area Law"