James Bristol is a partner with Waller Lansden. Mr. Bristol has more than 20 years experience in all areas of ERISA, executive compensation, retirement, health and employee benefits. His practice includes mergers and acquisitions, legal compliance and establishing and administrating all type of benefit plans. Mr. Bristol is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward White, Inc.) for his work in employee benefits law. He has worked a broad range of industries including healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing and services industries. Mr. Bristol has represented clients in numerous examinations by the U.S. Department of Labor and Internal Revenue Service. He has had significant engagements as an ERISA expert witness.
In the area of executive benefits, Mr. Bristol provides counsel on stock and equity incentive programs, deferred compensation agreements, including 409A, SERPs, rabbi trusts and funding. His practice covers federal and state securities law, corporate governance, financial and accounting considerations, special considerations of golden parachute and 162(m) taxes and requirements under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).
Education
J.D., cum laude, Pepperdine University, 1987
Note and Comment Editor, Pepperdine Law Review, 1986-87
B.A., cum laude, Columbia Christian College, 1980
Professional Activities
Member, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, Washington and American Bar Associations
Member, Health Law Section and Tax Section of the American Bar Association
Member, Employee Benefits Committee of ABA Tax Section; active in various subcommittees and meet annually with members and officials from national office of Treasury Dept. and Internal Revenue Service, Employee Plans Division
Member, ESOP Association, Washington, D.C.
NewSouth Chapter Advisory Board
Civic and Other Activities
Member, Board of Directors, Knowledge Academies
Former Member, Board of Directors of the American Lung Association of Tennessee
Member, Robertson Association and Sennett Society of the United Way
