Ice Miller adds Blachman as partner

Ice Miller LLP has added Gary Blachman as a partner in the firm's Employee Benefits Group.

Blachman works to protect companies from financial and legal risk by developing best practices for corporate governance and compliance policy. He advises clients on corporate benefits issues in mergers and acquisitions, including the design and implementation of post-acquisition benefit strategies. He regularly provides fiduciary compliance training for senior executives and retirement committee members. He has experience with IRS and U.S. Department of Labor audits, negotiating settlements and voluntary correction programs.

Blachman's practice involves designing and ongoing compliance for non-qualified executive compensation arrangements. Gary also advises on HIPAA-related matters, such as health coverage portability, health information privacy, data security and ongoing welfare plan compliance.

Before entering private practice, Blachman acted as a consultant and in-house counsel for an independent human resources and employee benefits solution firm where he advised internal and external clients on federal tax, pension and health and welfare law issues among other matters. He also served as a pension investigator with the U.S. Department of Labor investigating prohibited transactions and fiduciary violations.

"Gary has an extensive employee benefits background, having served as a pension investigator and employee benefits consultant before transitioning to private practice," said Steve Humke, chief managing partner of Ice Miller. "His experience makes him a tremendous asset to his clients and the Firm."