About Michael A. Kadlec
Michael Kadlec has significant experience in all aspects of employee benefits and executive compensation, including:
- Design and drafting of retirement and welfare benefit plans
- Design and drafting of equity compensation arrangements, long-term incentive arrangements, and transaction bonus arrangements
- Drafting and negotiation of employment, separation severance, and similar agreements
- Design and drafting of deferred compensation arrangements and advice and guidance on compliance with ERISA and IRC section 409A
- Advice and guidance on employee benefits and executive compensation aspects of corporate mergers and acquisitions, including IRC section 280G
- Advice and guidance on public corporation executive compensation design and disclosure
Michael has experience representing various types of clients, including international publicly traded corporations, private equity funds, privately held entities, large tax-exempt organizations, and executives.
Outside the Firm
Michael is married and has two sons and enjoys being involved with his sons’ sports and other activities.
A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolades are based can be found here.
Experience
- One of the world’s largest multimedia conglomerates, in all aspects of employee benefits and executive compensation.
- A defense contractor, on all aspects of employee benefits, including the re-design and implementation of its pension plan and 401(k) plan.
- Large nonprofit operators of hospitals and other health-related service providers, in the design and drafting of their 403(b) plans and its defined benefit pension plans, and its integration of the employee benefits programs of newly acquired hospitals.
- Private equity funds, in connection with their acquisition of various portfolio companies with respect to all aspects of employee benefits and executive compensation, including the negotiation and design of employment agreements and equity-based compensation programs.
- Preparing executive compensation analysis and disclosure for the proxy disclosure statements of various publicly traded corporations.
- Senior management groups, for purposes of negotiating employment and compensation agreements in connection with the sale of their employers.
- Plan sponsors, in connection with the design, drafting, and on-going administration of employee stock ownership plans (“ESOPs”).
- Plan sponsors, in connection with the termination of defined benefit pension plans.
- Preparation and negotiation of determination letter and voluntary compliance program (“VCP”) applications for qualified retirement plans.
- Employers before the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Labor, with respect to the defense of non-compliance penalties pertaining to their qualified retirement plans.
A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolades are based can be found here.
News & Views
Cases & Deals / Deal
Blank Rome Represents NP Aerospace in Its Acquisition of Iten Defense, LLCOctober 19, 2026
Honors & Awards / Ranking
Blank Rome Attorneys Recognized in 2027 Best Lawyers in America®August 20, 2026
Cases & Deals / Deal
Blank Rome Represents SHF, Inc. in Its Acquisition of American Packing & Gasket Holdings, LLCAugust 13, 2026
Cases & Deals / Deal
Blank Rome Represents ZS Fund L.P. in Its Acquisition of Carpetland U.S.A. of Davenport, Inc. and AffiliatesAugust 11, 2026
Cases & Deals / Deal
Blank Rome Represents Prospect Capital Corporation in Sale of Valley Electric to MYR GroupJuly 9, 2026
Cases & Deals / Deal
Blank Rome Represents Custom Alloy in Its Sale to Forged Solutions GroupJune 24, 2026
Honors & Awards / Ranking
Chambers USA 2026 Recognizes Blank Rome Attorneys and PracticesJune 4, 2026
Cases & Deals / Deal
Blank Rome Advises FGI Worldwide on Acquisition by Goldman Sachs AlternativesMay 18, 2026
A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolades are based can be found here.
Recognitions
- 2027, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law in Philadelphia, listed in Best Lawyers in America©
- 2021–2026, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Law, listed in Chambers USA
A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolades are based can be found here.
Professional Activities
Michael is a member of the Pension Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association.
A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolades are based can be found here.
Bar Admissions
- Pennsylvania
Education
- University of Delaware, BS
- Temple University School of Law, JD
A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolades are based can be found here.