Mark Jones
Partner

Mr. Jones' practice concentrates on qualified retirement plans, health and welfare plans, and equity compensation arrangements for domestic and international clients.

Recent work has included representing purchasers and sellers in corporate transactions; drafting equity compensation plans and related securities filings; negotiating plan funding agreements for trustees and other financial institutions; providing ERISA counsel to lenders and borrowers in the negotiation of credit agreements; advising employers defending actions for fiduciary breach; terminating defined benefit plans and negotiating withdrawal liability for multiemployer plans; counseling employers on the restructure of postretirement medical plans; drafting privacy agreements and plan amendments for health plans and service providers; and representing issuers of equity and debt securities in private securities placements.

Honors & Awards

• Legal 500 US, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (2013)

Affiliations

American Bar Association, Section on Taxation, Committee on Employee Benefits, 1999 - present

• Vice Chair, Subcommittee on International Benefits Issues, Committee on Employee Benefits, 2012-present
• Young Lawyers Liaison, Subcommittee on International Benefits Issues, Committee on Employee Benefits, 2007-2012
• John Nolan Fellow, 2004-2005
• Task Force on the Alternative Minimum Tax, 2003 - 2004

Pacific Coast Tax Exempt/Government Entities Council to the Internal Revenue Service, 2012-present

Recent Presentations and Speeches
“7 Steps to Running a Smart Stock Option Plan,” Pillsbury MCLE Marathon, San Diego, Cal., Jan. 31, 2013 and Los Angeles, Cal., Jan. 29, 2013

“Top 10 Fiduciary Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them,” San Diego, Cal., Jan. 30, 2013

Panel discussion, “Global Equity Incentive Pay,” ABA Section of Taxation Midyear Meeting, Orlando, January 25, 2013

“Upcoming Tax Assessments under PPACA,” ERISA Industry Committee, October 17, 2012

“Recent Changes in Local Law Relating to Cross-Border Equity Compensation,” ABA Section of Taxation Joint Fall CLE Meeting, Boston, Mass., Sept. 14, 2012

"New Rules on Retirement Plan Fee Disclosure Obligations: What to Do to Avoid Fiduciary Liability," Pillsbury webinar, May 16, 2012

Panel discussion, "Proposed Regulations under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act," ABA Section of Taxation May Meeting, Washington, D.C., May 4, 2012

2012 Employee Wellness Programs: Overcoming HIPAA, COBRA and ADA Hurdles,” Business and Legal Resources (BLR) & HR Hero webinar, Apr. 3, 2012

"Providing Equity Compensation for a Global Workforce," ABA Section of Taxation Midyear Meeting, San Diego, Cal., Feb. 17, 2012

"Top Ten Fiduciary Considerations for Your Benefit Programs," Pillsbury MCLE Marathon, Los Angeles, Cal., Jan. 10, 2012, San Diego, Cal., Jan. 12, 2012, Palo Alto, Cal., Jan. 18, 2012 and San Francisco, Cal., Jan. 20, 2012

"Wellness Best Practices: Putting Teeth into Your Wellness Program without Risking Legal Liability," Business and Legal Resources (BLR) webinar, Sept. 26, 2011

"Healthcare Benefits: The Latest Updates on Healthcare Reform for Employers; Get Prepared for 2012," Business and Legal Resources (BLR) & HR Hero webinar, Aug. 16 and 10, 2011

"Dodd-Frank Executive Compensation Provisions," Pillsbury seminars, Palo Alto, Cal., June 24, 2011 and San Francisco, Cal., June 27, 2011

"Employment and Benefits Issues in Acquisitions," Pillsbury MCLE video conference, Los Angeles, Cal., May 17, 2011

"Final FBAR Regulations," ABA Section of Taxation May Meeting, Washington, D.C., May 6, 2011

"Healthcare Reform: The Latest Updates on What's Changing in 2011 (and Beyond); Get Prepared Now," Business and Legal Resources (BLR) webinar, Mar. 3, 2011

"The Top Ten Things You Need to Know About Health Care Reform," Pillsbury CLE Marathons, New York, N.Y., Feb. 24, 2011, Beverly Hills, Cal., Jan. 25, 2011, San Francisco, Cal., Jan. 13, 2011 and Palo Alto, Cal., Jan. 11, 2011

"Foreign Retirement Plans and Notice 2010-60: Withholding Obligations for Foreign Financial Institutions," ABA Section of Taxation Midyear Meeting, Boca Raton, Fla., Jan. 21, 2011

"Avoiding the 'Cadillac' Tax," Thomson Reuters webinar, Dec. 8 and Nov. 30, 2010

"Healthcare Reform: The Latest Update on What's Changing in 2011 (and Beyond)," Business and Legal Resources (BLR) webinar, Dec. 6 and Dec. 3, 2010

"Wellness Best Practices: Putting Teeth into Your Wellness Program without Risking Legal Liability," Business and Legal Resources (BLR) webinar, Oct. 4, 2010

"EU Prospectus Requirements," ABA Section of Taxation Joint Fall CLE Meeting, Sept. 24, 2010

Panel discussion, "Deferred Compensation and Notice 2009-85: Taxation of Expatriates," ABA Section of Taxation Joint Fall CLE Meeting, Sept. 24, 2010

"Health Care Reform: Preparing for Open Enrollment," Pillsbury webinar, Sept. 14, 2010

"Health Care Reform: The Top Ten Issues Employers Need to Focus on Now…and an Update from Washington," Pillsbury webinar, June 10, 2010

Panel discussion, "Changes in the Reports of Foreign Banks and Financial Accounts (FBAR)," ABA Section of Taxation Midyear Meeting, Washington, D.C., May 7, 2010

"Healthcare Reform: What the New Legislation Means for Employers," Business and Legal Resources (BLR) webinar, Apr. 21, 2010

Panel discussion, "Pension Transfers and HR Issues in Global Carve-Outs and Divestitures," Pillsbury client seminars, Feb. 25, 2010

"Stock Grants to Employees in China," ABA Section of Taxation Midyear Meeting, San Antonio, Tex., Jan. 22, 2010

Panel discussion, "International Pension Issues in a Global Economy: Report of the Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities," ABA Joint Fall CLE Meeting, Chicago, Ill., Sept. 25, 2009

Panel discussion, "New Guidance under Section 457A," ABA Section of Taxation May Meeting, Washington, D.C., May 8, 2009

"Debt on Withdrawal from U.K. Multiemployer Schemes," ABA Section of Taxation Midyear Meeting, New Orleans, La., Jan. 9, 2009

"Addressing Foreign Issues under Section 409A:  U.S. Taxation of Canadian Deferred Compensation," ABA Annual Meeting, New York, N.Y., Aug. 9, 2008."

Update on International Stock Registration Requirements," ABA Section of Taxation Midyear Meeting,  Washington, D.C., May 9, 2008

"Recent Benefits Decisions on Mergers and Acquisitions," ABA Joint Fall CLE Meeting, Vancouver, B.C., Sept. 28, 2007

"Section 409A and Multinational Employers," Pillsbury webinar, Jun. 5, 2007."

ERISA Investment in Hedge Funds and Private Equity," Pillsbury client seminars, New York, N.Y., Mar. 3, 2007

"Securities Law and Equity Compensation," Pillsbury CLE program, New York, N.Y., Mar. 8, 2006

"Proposed Regulations on Incentive Stock Options," ABA Joint Fall CLE Meeting, Chicago, Ill., Oct. 8, 2003