Biography
Diane Aaron specializes in all areas of employee benefits law, providing advice to individuals and entities primarily in personal service businesses and other professional trades and industries.
Diane’s practice includes retirement planning consultation and advice on the following matters:
- Implementation, operation and compliance of qualified profit sharing, 401(k), 403(b), defined benefit and cash balance plans, ESOPs, cafeteria plans, SEPs, SIMPLEs and non-qualified executive compensation plans
- Related and affiliated employer analysis
- ERISA reporting and disclosure requirements
- Prohibited transactions
- Analysis and resolution of operational errors
- Application of IRS and DOL amnesty programs
- Preparation and review of qualified domestic relations orders
- Fiduciary training and advice to minimize liability
- Facilitation of the defense and resolution of regulatory audits
Diane also offers general tax and business advice, which focuses on planning for distributions from retirement plans and IRAs and drafting employee benefit provisions in stock and asset purchase agreements.
Diane considers among her greatest strengths being responsible, reliable, creative and sensitive to clients’ needs. While she has considerable experience, Diane remains excited about her practice and takes pride in keeping a fresh perspective when counseling clients and resolving problems.
Prior to joining Sideman, Diane was a partner at Buffington & Aaron, A Law Corporation, a boutique law firm in San Francisco, for over 35 years and began her practice with McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen.
Professional Involvement
AV 5.0 Peer Review Rating
Expert witness in employee benefit and compensation matters
Taught employee benefits classes at UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) and Golden Gate University School of Law
Former Member of ABA Tax Section
Former Member of The Panel of Arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association
Speaker at ALI-ABA, PLI, American Society of Pension Actuaries, IRS Private Sector Panels, Women Tax Lawyers, National Business Institute and Western Pension & Benefits Conferences
Education
- University of California, Berkeley, School of Law J.D. 1981
Admissions
- California
Biography
Diane Aaron specializes in all areas of employee benefits law, providing advice to individuals and entities primarily in personal service businesses and other professional trades and industries.
Diane’s practice includes retirement planning consultation and advice on the following matters:
- Implementation, operation and compliance of qualified profit sharing, 401(k), 403(b), defined benefit and cash balance plans, ESOPs, cafeteria plans, SEPs, SIMPLEs and non-qualified executive compensation plans
- Related and affiliated employer analysis
- ERISA reporting and disclosure requirements
- Prohibited transactions
- Analysis and resolution of operational errors
- Application of IRS and DOL amnesty programs
- Preparation and review of qualified domestic relations orders
- Fiduciary training and advice to minimize liability
- Facilitation of the defense and resolution of regulatory audits
Diane also offers general tax and business advice, which focuses on planning for distributions from retirement plans and IRAs and drafting employee benefit provisions in stock and asset purchase agreements.
Diane considers among her greatest strengths being responsible, reliable, creative and sensitive to clients’ needs. While she has considerable experience, Diane remains excited about her practice and takes pride in keeping a fresh perspective when counseling clients and resolving problems.
Prior to joining Sideman, Diane was a partner at Buffington & Aaron, A Law Corporation, a boutique law firm in San Francisco, for over 35 years and began her practice with McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen.