Providing Peace Of Mind
Biography
Maura Ann McBreen brings over 30 years of expertise in advising some of the nation’s largest employers with global transactions. Her work focuses on preparing and designing employee benefit plans and executive compensation plans, both equity and equity-based plans, including employment, consulting, severance and retention agreements and arrangements. Maura Ann also helps clients navigate employee benefit plan considerations that arise from corporate transactions, and advises public companies on SEC reporting and compliance obligations in connection with executive compensation agreements.
Recognized by Chambers USA and Chambers Global, Maura Ann is widely recognized as a leading advisor to both C-suite executives and employers, with inclusion on lists such as "Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago" in 2017 and the "Most Notable Women Lawyers in Chicago" in 2018 by Crain’s Chicago.
Maura Ann serves on the Board of Advisors for Catholic Charities.
Education
- Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- J.D. - 1978
- Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts
- A.B. - 1975
- Honors: cum laude
- Honors: high honors in English
Published Works
- “Compensation and Fringe Benefits,” Thomson Reuters/WG&L, Bi-monthly publication | Author
- Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education Handbook on Employee Benefits Law | Co-author
- "Developments in Cross-Border Compensation: Employer Withholding and Reporting Requirements, and Retirement Plan Issues for Mobile Employees," NYU 72nd Institute on Federal Taxation 2014 | Co-author
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association | Member
- Chicago Bar Association | Member/Former Member of Committee on Employee Benefits
- The Chicago Network | Member
- Illinois State Bar Association Employee Benefits Law Section Council | Former Member
- Board of Contributing Editors and Advisors, Corporate Taxation | Member
Practice Areas
- Executive Compensation
- Employee Benefits
Honors
- Illinois Super Lawyer | 2006, 2008-2023
- Ranked Band One by Chambers Illinois Labor & Employment: Employee Benefits & Compensation | 2019-2022
- Best Lawyers in America | 2021 Best Lawyers for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Employment Law - Management
- Illinois Leading Lawyer | 2018 Leading Lawyer in Employee Benefits ranked No. 1 in Top Ten Employee Benefits Lawyers in Illinois
- Most Notable Women Lawyers in Chicago | 2018 Crain’s Chicago
- Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago | 2017 Crain's Chicago
- The Best Lawyers | 2016-2017 "Lawyer of the Year" in Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- Legal 500 in Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and Retirement Plans: Transactional and Design
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
- U.S. Tax Court
Podcasts + Webinars
- Lectures and advises on plan assets issues, including investment fund structuring with respect to employee benefit investors
Pro-Bono Activities
- Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago | Board of Advisors