Experience

Focusing on employee benefit matters and executive compensation for both taxable and tax-exempt employers, Marika Ostendorf designs and implements qualified retirement plans, welfare benefit plans, nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements under IRC § 409A and § 457 and flexible benefit plans.

Marika represents various employers in employee benefit matters, including small, privately-held corporations, tax exempt employers (including hospitals and governmental entities) and Fortune 500 companies. She assists employers in maintaining their existing benefit plans, periodically evaluating them to ensure that the requirements of the IRC, ERISA and the PBGC are met, and, where necessary, redesigning them to accomplish specific objectives. Marika has represented employers involved with benefit plan audits by the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Labor, or who wish to pursue the voluntary compliance resolution program for certain plan defects. She also represents executive-level employees in structuring and properly documenting compensation packages.

Admitted to Practice

Court of Appeals of Maryland

Certified Public Accountant

Education

University of Baltimore School of Law, LL.M., 1992
University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., with honors, 1987
Franklin and Marshall College, B.A., cum laude, 1984
Phi Beta Kappa

Professional Organizations

Maryland State Bar Association Committee on Employee Benefits Organizations
Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants

Professional & Community Activities

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America Employee Benefits Category (Woodward/White, Inc.)
Included in Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Selected to Maryland Super Lawyers in employee benefits