Alert 01.14.26
New Year, New Benefits: Trump Accounts Offer a New Opportunity for Employer-Sponsored Benefits
Trump Accounts are a new, tax-favored savings vehicle for minors created under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act.
Amber Ward advises public and private companies on a broad spectrum of employee benefits and executive compensation matters.
Amber counsels employers on the establishment, design and operation of pension, welfare, and executive compensation plans. She advises clients regarding compliance with all employee benefits laws, including the Code, ERISA, PPACA, COBRA and HIPAA. Amber also advises clients regarding equity arrangements, employment and severance agreements, SERPs, deferred compensation arrangements, and 409A, 162(m) and 280G compliance.
Representative Experience
- Advised BRANDED, a leading digital consumer products platform and acquirer of disruptive challenger brands, in its recent acquisition of digital brand creation pioneer Heyday to form a new company, Essor.
- Advised First Northern Community Bancorp, along with its subsidiary First Northern Bank, in its acquisition of three Columbia State Bank branches located in Orland, Willows and Colusa, California.
- Represented MUFG Union Bank, N.A., in connection with its agreement with PacWest Bancorp subsidiary, Pacific Western Bank, which has agreed to acquire certain assets and assume certain liabilities of Union Bank’s Homeowners Association (HOA) Services Division for cash consideration of approximately $250 million.
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- Hosted a free legal health checkup for San Francisco Bay Area nonprofits serving homelessness in partnership with the Justice & Diversity Center.
- Advised Exar as a Beijing-based consortium comprising private equity fund E-Town Capital and semiconductor maker Chipone Technology Co. Ltd. bought the company from Exar Corp. for $136 million.
- Advised Pacific Continental Corporation during its agreement to buy Foundation Bancorp, Inc. The transaction, which is valued at approximately $67 million, is expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter.
- Advised Jollibee Food Corp. during its $100 million, 40% stake acquisition in fast-casual burger chain Smashburger.
- Represented Bridge Capital Holdings as it sold for $425 million to Western Alliance Bancorp.
- Represented a group of Japanese companies led by Imagica Robot Holdings in its purchase of media localization provider SDI Media.
- Represented Global Cash Access Holdings Inc. in acquisition of casino-games company Multimedia Games for $1.2 billion, or $36.50 per share.
Professional Highlights
- Recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (published by BL Rankings LLC) for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (2022–2025)
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- External Publications
- “Supreme Court Rejects Yard-Man Inference of Lifetime Vesting of Retiree Health Benefits,” Employee Relations Law Journal, Vol. 41, No. 1, Summer 2015.
Education
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J.D., University of San Diego School of Law, 2006
B.B.A., University of Michigan, 2003
Admissions
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California
New York