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Steven K. Barber

Partner
Biography

Steve Barber is a partner in Shutts & Bowen's Tampa office, where he is a member of the Corporate Practice Group.  Mr. Barber has more than 25 years of experience in the areas of ERISA transactional and compliance law and employee benefits law. 

Mr. Barber has worked extensively in the design, adoption, operation and administration of employee benefit plans, including preparation of all necessary plan documents.

He has provided counsel to numerous clients on ERISA fiduciary best practices and qualified plan corrections under compliance resolution programs sponsored by the IRS and the U.S. Department of Labor.  He has also represented clients with respect to plan investigations by the Department of Labor and plan examinations by the IRS.

Mr. Barber has worked with clients in the design and implementation of non-qualified deferred compensation plans, including Section 409A compliance.  He has significant experience working with welfare benefit plans (including major medical insurance plans, medical reimbursement plans, cafeteria plans and flexible spending accounts) and COBRA compliance.

Presentations and Publications

  • "Health Care Reform:  What 401(k) Administrators Need to Know" The 401(k) Advisor
  • "Will the High Court's  Decision in LaRue v. DeWolff Change 401(k) Administration?  The 401(k) Advisor
  • "Estate Planner and Family Law Practitioner:  Beware of REA Rules re: Retirement Plan Distributions," Co-Author, The Florida Bar Journal
  • "New Florida Statute Protects Retirement Plan Assets from Claims of Creditors," Co-Author, The Florida Bar Journal
  • "Pension Assets in Bankruptcy - The Final Chapter?" Author, The Hillsborough County Bar Association Lawyer
  • "Pension Simplification: The Ultimate Oxymoron?" Author, The Florida Bar Journal

Recognition

  • Martindale Hubbell A-V Preeminent Rated
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business:   Tax:  Employee Benefits, 2006, 2007, 2008 2009, 2010, 2011
  • The Best Lawyers in America, selected for inclusion Employee Benefits Law:   2007, 2008, 2009,  2010, 2011, 2012

Education

  • University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D. 1979
  • University of South Carolina, B.S. 1975

Bar Admissions

  • The Florida Bar

Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
  • The Florida Bar Tax Section
  • Florida West Coast Employee Benefits Council
  • The Group, Inc.
  • Hillsborough County Bar Association
  • Tampa Bay Pension Council