Partner
Hartford
Email: rfsmith@murthalaw.com
Phone: 860-240-6095
Fax: 860-240-6150
Boston
Phone: 617-457-4023
Fax: 617-482-3868
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Bar & Court Admissions
- Massachusetts
Education
- McGill University (LL.B., 2004) Bachelor of Laws and (B.C.L.,2004) Bachelor of Civil Law
- International University of Japan (M.A., 2001)
- Wilfrid Laurier University (B.A., 1999)
Rachel Faye Smith
Rachel Smith has represented a wide range of clients and business sectors, including both public and private companies, venture capital and private equity firms, limited liability companies and partnerships, and nonprofit organizations in the areas of employee benefits and executive compensation. Rachel’s employee benefits practice includes advising on ERISA. She counsels on the drafting, administration and compliance issues associated with qualified plans, such as profit-sharing and 401(k) plans and defined benefit pension plans. She also advises clients on non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements and employee health and welfare benefit plans, including issues relating to the Affordable Care Act. Rachel represents clients on the integration and transition of employee benefits plans, from both a buyer and seller perspective, in corporate mergers and acquisitions. Rachel also represents clients in the submission of qualified plans to the IRS for approval and modification, as well as compliance and correction submissions under the IRS Voluntary Correction Program.
Rachel regularly counsels clients in the drafting and analysis of deferred compensation arrangements and Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, including the implications of Section 409A on management carve-out and change of control plans, bonus arrangements, employment and severance agreements, equity compensation and incentive plans, and other deferred compensation arrangements. She also advises clients on golden parachute payment issues and Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code.
Rachel advises clients on all varieties of equity compensation arrangements and incentive plans, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards and restricted stock unit awards. Her practice includes the drafting and interpretation of these arrangements, as well as advising clients on the treatment of equity awards in the context of corporate mergers and acquisitions. She also has experience in advising partnerships and limited liability companies on their compensation programs, including the tax implications of partnership interests as incentive compensation awards.
In addition to her employee benefits and executive compensation practice, Rachel represents companies in connection with the drafting and negotiation of licensing agreements, supply agreements, vendor and service provider agreements, and other forms of commercial contracts.
Rachel joined Murtha Cullina LLP in 2014. Prior to attending law school, Rachel received a Master of Arts in Asia-Pacific International Relations from the International University of Japan. She speaks fluent French, conversational Spanish and conversational Japanese.
- Boston Bar Association, ERISA Committee, Co-Chair
- Boston Bar Association, Tax Steering Committee, At-Large Member
- American Bar Association
- New England Employee Benefits Council
- November 10, 2016 - Rachel Faye Smith and Sonia Macias Steele Participating on Panel about Employee Benefits for Boston Bar Association
- May 26, 2016 - Rachel Faye Smith will present "Surviving the New Fiduciary Landscape: What Financial Providers Need to Know About the New DOL Rules" at the Advisors Insight Workshop in Woburn, MA
- April 14, 2016 - Rachel Faye Smith was a panelist for a Boston Bar Association Conference entitled “Code Section 409A Issues and Pitfalls in Employment Agreements.”
- April 6, 2016 - Mike Harrington, Emily Brown, Rachel Faye Smith, and Jen Corvo presented on "Legal Updates (What you Need to Know)" at the American College of Health Care Administrators Massachusetts Chapter Annual Meeting.
- December 7, 2017 - Rachel Faye Smith Interview: Your Fiduciary Obligations for Retirement Plan Compliance for the Financial Management Network
- May 12, 2017 - Employee Benefits Webinar Recording: Retirement Plan Hardship Distributions
- November 2016 - Rachel Faye Smith Interview: Retirement Plan Compliance for the Financial Management Network
- March 16, 2015 - Rachel Faye Smith and Monica P. Snyder Interviewed by Radio Entrepreneurs "On the Record" on Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and Employment Law
Rachel Smith has represented a wide range of clients and business sectors, including both public and private companies, venture capital and private equity firms, limited liability companies and partnerships, and nonprofit organizations in the areas of employee benefits and executive compensation. Rachel’s employee benefits practice includes advising on ERISA. She counsels on the drafting, administration and compliance issues associated with qualified plans, such as profit-sharing and 401(k) plans and defined benefit pension plans. She also advises clients on non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements and employee health and welfare benefit plans, including issues relating to the Affordable Care Act. Rachel represents clients on the integration and transition of employee benefits plans, from both a buyer and seller perspective, in corporate mergers and acquisitions. Rachel also represents clients in the submission of qualified plans to the IRS for approval and modification, as well as compliance and correction submissions under the IRS Voluntary Correction Program.
Rachel regularly counsels clients in the drafting and analysis of deferred compensation arrangements and Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, including the implications of Section 409A on management carve-out and change of control plans, bonus arrangements, employment and severance agreements, equity compensation and incentive plans, and other deferred compensation arrangements. She also advises clients on golden parachute payment issues and Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code.
Rachel advises clients on all varieties of equity compensation arrangements and incentive plans, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards and restricted stock unit awards. Her practice includes the drafting and interpretation of these arrangements, as well as advising clients on the treatment of equity awards in the context of corporate mergers and acquisitions. She also has experience in advising partnerships and limited liability companies on their compensation programs, including the tax implications of partnership interests as incentive compensation awards.
In addition to her employee benefits and executive compensation practice, Rachel represents companies in connection with the drafting and negotiation of licensing agreements, supply agreements, vendor and service provider agreements, and other forms of commercial contracts.
Rachel joined Murtha Cullina LLP in 2014. Prior to attending law school, Rachel received a Master of Arts in Asia-Pacific International Relations from the International University of Japan. She speaks fluent French, conversational Spanish and conversational Japanese.
- Boston Bar Association, ERISA Committee, Co-Chair
- Boston Bar Association, Tax Steering Committee, At-Large Member
- American Bar Association
- New England Employee Benefits Council
- November 10, 2016 - Rachel Faye Smith and Sonia Macias Steele Participating on Panel about Employee Benefits for Boston Bar Association
- May 26, 2016 - Rachel Faye Smith will present "Surviving the New Fiduciary Landscape: What Financial Providers Need to Know About the New DOL Rules" at the Advisors Insight Workshop in Woburn, MA
- April 14, 2016 - Rachel Faye Smith was a panelist for a Boston Bar Association Conference entitled “Code Section 409A Issues and Pitfalls in Employment Agreements.”
- April 6, 2016 - Mike Harrington, Emily Brown, Rachel Faye Smith, and Jen Corvo presented on "Legal Updates (What you Need to Know)" at the American College of Health Care Administrators Massachusetts Chapter Annual Meeting.
- December 7, 2017 - Rachel Faye Smith Interview: Your Fiduciary Obligations for Retirement Plan Compliance for the Financial Management Network
- May 12, 2017 - Employee Benefits Webinar Recording: Retirement Plan Hardship Distributions
- November 2016 - Rachel Faye Smith Interview: Retirement Plan Compliance for the Financial Management Network
- March 16, 2015 - Rachel Faye Smith and Monica P. Snyder Interviewed by Radio Entrepreneurs "On the Record" on Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and Employment Law
- Massachusetts
- McGill University (LL.B., 2004) Bachelor of Laws and (B.C.L.,2004) Bachelor of Civil Law
- International University of Japan (M.A., 2001)
- Wilfrid Laurier University (B.A., 1999)
