As ERISA Counsel in the Firm's Business and Finance department, Sonia Macias Steele provides practical and innovative solutions to clients’ employee benefits and executive compensation needs. Her clients include public and private companies, governmental organizations, and sole proprietors.

Sonia’s practice is broad and deep. She advises senior executives and company boards on all matters relating to executive compensation, including individual employment, severance, and change in control arrangements, as well as equity compensation. She also advises clients on the design, implementation and administration of enterprise-wide programs, including qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, health and welfare programs, and fringe benefit plans.

Sonia routinely provides guidance to clients on compliance under federal laws such as ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, PPACA and the tax code (including Section 409A). In the event of a compliance issue, she has extensive experience with various compliance and correction programs, including EPCRS. Sonia also represents clients in examinations and audits by the IRS, Department of Labor, and Department of Health & Human Services, as well as state agencies.

Sonia earned her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, and a JD/MBA from Duke University. Prior to joining the Firm, she worked at law firms in Chicago and Boston, and spent several years as in-house counsel to a large financial institution. Before law school, she worked as a Human Resources generalist at a national power company, where she provided benefits and employment support for a unionized and non-unionized workforce.