Counsel
Boston
Email: maska@murthalaw.com
Phone: 617-457-4131
Fax: 617-482-3868
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Bar & Court Admissions
- Massachusetts
- Wisconsin
Education
- University of Wisconsin (J.D., 1983)
- Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University (M.P.A., 1980)
- Wheaton College (B.A., summa cum laude, 1977)
Melanie N. Aska
Melanie N. Aska, a Murtha Cullina counsel, brings more than three decades of experience in ERISA and employee benefit plans to her legal practice.
A member of the firm’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice Group since 2018, Melanie works with clients of all sizes from the manufacturing, health care and nonprofit sectors. Applying her keen understanding of the regulatory landscape that impacts plans offered by for-profit and tax-exempt employers, she guides clients in the design and implementation of retirement, flexible benefits and welfare benefit programs. Melanie’s long tenure in the field allows her to quickly identify and solve issues that may arise during the operational stage, especially voluntary corrections, plan amendments, compliance reporting or other adjustments that may be prompted by competitive factors, regulatory changes, mergers, spinoffs or terminations.
Melanie brings in-depth experience in 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), 457(f) and defined benefit retirement plans; cafeteria plans; employee health and welfare benefit plans; ACA compliance; and review of service provider contracts. Her due diligence skills are frequently sought by clients involved in mergers or acquisitions.
Valued for her practical approach, reliability and responsiveness, Melanie recently helped a leading company in the home technology space seamlessly transition an acquired company’s employees into their workforce and integrate their employee benefit plans.
Melanie is an accomplished writer whose articles are regularly distributed in Murtha newsletters and client alerts. Since 1995, she has co-authored the Pension Distribution Answer Book, published by Wolters Kluwer, and written many articles on retirement plan-related topics for that publisher’s Journal of Pension Benefits.
Representative Matters
• Advised a Massachusetts-based home automation company in its 401(k) plan, cafeteria plan, health and employee welfare plans, plan corrections, and employment-related issues arising from mergers and acquisitions.
• Represented an automotive maintenance company in work related to its 401(k) plan, cafeteria plan, and health and employee welfare benefits. Also reviewed the company’s service provider contracts and advised on benefits related to mergers and acquisitions.
• Represented a senior living community on its employee 401(k) and retirement plans, cafeteria plan, health and employee welfare plans, and plan corrections.
• Counseled a senior living and rehabilitation facility on its 401(k), 403(b), 457(b) and 457(f) retirement plans, cafeteria plans, health and welfare plans, plan corrections and ACA compliance.
• Advised a regional water utility on matters related to 401(k), defined benefit, 457(b), 457(f) and other retirement plans as well as cafeteria plans, health and employee welfare plans, and employment benefit issues arising from mergers and acquisitions.
Presentations
• Presenter, “Year-End 2021 Employee Benefits Update,” Murtha Cullina Labor & Employment Webinar, Sept. 22, 2021.
• Presenter, “Year-End 2020 Employee Benefits Update,” Murtha Cullina Labor & Employment Webinar, Dec. 11, 2020.
• Presenter, “Year-End 2018 Employee Benefits Update,” Murtha Cullina Labor & Employment Webinar, Nov. 13, 2018.
Prior Experience
• Harvard University, senior benefits compliance officer
• Thomson Reuters/EBIA, senior editor and seminar speaker
• A Rhode Island employee benefits law firm, of counsel
• A Wisconsin-based law firm, shareholder and employee benefits practice group lead
• A global law firm, employee benefits associate
Holds an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
- November 2, 2021 - Melanie N. Aska Co-Authors 2022 Edition of Pension Distribution Answer Book
- October 21, 2020 - Melanie N. Aska Co-Authors 2021 Edition of Pension Distribution Answer Book
- July 1, 2020 - Murtha Cullina LLP Successfully Represents Savant Systems, Inc. in Multifaceted Acquisition of GE Lighting
- November 30, 2018 - Melanie N. Aska Co-Authors 2019 Edition of Pension Distribution Answer Book
- September 13, 2018 - After Recent Attorney Additions, Murtha Cullina LLP Labor and Employment Practice Group Prepares for Fall Seminars
- April 10, 2018 - Melanie N. Aska Joins Employee Benefits Practice Group
Melanie N. Aska, a Murtha Cullina counsel, brings more than three decades of experience in ERISA and employee benefit plans to her legal practice.
A member of the firm’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice Group since 2018, Melanie works with clients of all sizes from the manufacturing, health care and nonprofit sectors. Applying her keen understanding of the regulatory landscape that impacts plans offered by for-profit and tax-exempt employers, she guides clients in the design and implementation of retirement, flexible benefits and welfare benefit programs. Melanie’s long tenure in the field allows her to quickly identify and solve issues that may arise during the operational stage, especially voluntary corrections, plan amendments, compliance reporting or other adjustments that may be prompted by competitive factors, regulatory changes, mergers, spinoffs or terminations.
Melanie brings in-depth experience in 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), 457(f) and defined benefit retirement plans; cafeteria plans; employee health and welfare benefit plans; ACA compliance; and review of service provider contracts. Her due diligence skills are frequently sought by clients involved in mergers or acquisitions.
Valued for her practical approach, reliability and responsiveness, Melanie recently helped a leading company in the home technology space seamlessly transition an acquired company’s employees into their workforce and integrate their employee benefit plans.
Melanie is an accomplished writer whose articles are regularly distributed in Murtha newsletters and client alerts. Since 1995, she has co-authored the Pension Distribution Answer Book, published by Wolters Kluwer, and written many articles on retirement plan-related topics for that publisher’s Journal of Pension Benefits.
Representative Matters
• Advised a Massachusetts-based home automation company in its 401(k) plan, cafeteria plan, health and employee welfare plans, plan corrections, and employment-related issues arising from mergers and acquisitions.
• Represented an automotive maintenance company in work related to its 401(k) plan, cafeteria plan, and health and employee welfare benefits. Also reviewed the company’s service provider contracts and advised on benefits related to mergers and acquisitions.
• Represented a senior living community on its employee 401(k) and retirement plans, cafeteria plan, health and employee welfare plans, and plan corrections.
• Counseled a senior living and rehabilitation facility on its 401(k), 403(b), 457(b) and 457(f) retirement plans, cafeteria plans, health and welfare plans, plan corrections and ACA compliance.
• Advised a regional water utility on matters related to 401(k), defined benefit, 457(b), 457(f) and other retirement plans as well as cafeteria plans, health and employee welfare plans, and employment benefit issues arising from mergers and acquisitions.
Presentations
• Presenter, “Year-End 2021 Employee Benefits Update,” Murtha Cullina Labor & Employment Webinar, Sept. 22, 2021.
• Presenter, “Year-End 2020 Employee Benefits Update,” Murtha Cullina Labor & Employment Webinar, Dec. 11, 2020.
• Presenter, “Year-End 2018 Employee Benefits Update,” Murtha Cullina Labor & Employment Webinar, Nov. 13, 2018.
Prior Experience
• Harvard University, senior benefits compliance officer
• Thomson Reuters/EBIA, senior editor and seminar speaker
• A Rhode Island employee benefits law firm, of counsel
• A Wisconsin-based law firm, shareholder and employee benefits practice group lead
• A global law firm, employee benefits associate
Holds an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
- November 2, 2021 - Melanie N. Aska Co-Authors 2022 Edition of Pension Distribution Answer Book
- October 21, 2020 - Melanie N. Aska Co-Authors 2021 Edition of Pension Distribution Answer Book
- July 1, 2020 - Murtha Cullina LLP Successfully Represents Savant Systems, Inc. in Multifaceted Acquisition of GE Lighting
- November 30, 2018 - Melanie N. Aska Co-Authors 2019 Edition of Pension Distribution Answer Book
- September 13, 2018 - After Recent Attorney Additions, Murtha Cullina LLP Labor and Employment Practice Group Prepares for Fall Seminars
- April 10, 2018 - Melanie N. Aska Joins Employee Benefits Practice Group
- April 28, 2022 - Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group News: DOL Raises “Serious Concerns” About 401(k) Plan Investments in Cryptocurrencies
- February 4, 2022 - Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group News: ACA Information Reporting Deadlines for Calendar Year 2021 Will Soon Be Here
- February 1, 2022 - Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group News: Supreme Court Reaffirms That Defined Contribution Retirement Plan Fiduciaries Must Continually Monitor Investment Options and Remove Imprudent Ones
- January 13, 2022 - Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group News: Plans and Issuers Must Cover the Cost of OTC COVID-19 Tests (If You Can Find Them) by Saturday, January 15, 2022
- August 24, 2021 - Employee Benefits Group News: IRS Releases Information Letters on Substantiation Rules for Health FSA Debit Cards
- August 5, 2021 - Employee Benefits Group News: Reminder: Don't Forget to Timely Furnish the Required Notice of Expiration of the ARP COBRA Premium Subsidy Period!
- August 4, 2021 - Employee Benefits Group News: DOL Issues FAQs on Lifetime Income Disclosures for Defined Contribution Plans
- August 3, 2021 - Employee Benefits Group News: IRS Issues Additional Guidance on the COBRA Premium Subsidy and Related Tax Credit
- July 30, 2021 - Employee Benefits Group News: IRS Updates EPCRS Plan Correction Program
- May 14, 2021 - Employee Benefits Group News: IRS Issues Guidance on the Taxation of Dependent Care Benefits
- April 19, 2021 - Employee Benefits Group News: DOL Finally Issues Cybersecurity Guidance for Retirement Plans
- Employee Benefits Group News: DOL Issues Model Notices, FAQs and Other Guidance About the ARP COBRA Premium Subsidy
- April 8, 2021 - Employee Benefits Group News: IRS Says COVID-19 PPE Expenses Are Deductible or Reimbursable Tax-Free
- Labor & Employment Group News: New COBRA Premium Subsidy Law Requires Prompt Action by Employers and COBRA Administrators
- March 18, 2021 - Employee Benefits Group News: A Summary of Key Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Provisions in the American Rescue Plan Act
- March 31, 2020 - Employee Benefits Group News: IRS Extends the End-Date of the Initial Remedial Amendment Period for 403(b) Retirement Plans from March 31, 2020 to June 30, 2020
- March 31, 2020 - Employee Benefits Group News: CARES Act Includes Important Health Plan-Related Provisions
- March 29, 2020 - Employee Benefits Group News: President Signs Massive $2 Trillion Stimulus Package Permitting Retirement Plan Distributions and Loan Relief to Participants Affected by COVID-19 as Well as Waivers of 2020 Required Minimum Distributions
- March 9, 2020 - Employee Benefits Group News: The March 31, 2020 Deadline to Amend 403(b) Plan Documents Looms Large, and Other Remedial Plan Amendment Deadlines Will Follow
- February 4, 2020 - Employee Benefits Group News: The SECURE Act Significantly Changes Many Retirement and Other Employee Benefit Rules
- March 6, 2019 - Securities Group News: Apples, Oranges, and Fees Oh My - Fidelity Faces 401(k) Lawsuit Regarding “Supermarket Fees”
- Massachusetts
- Wisconsin
- University of Wisconsin (J.D., 1983)
- Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University (M.P.A., 1980)
- Wheaton College (B.A., summa cum laude, 1977)
