JoySellstrom

Senior Counsel

Joy partners with clients to design and manage benefit programs that work for the employer, given their size, industry, and corporate values.


More About Joy

For more than 25 years, clients have turned to Joy for guidance in structuring their employee benefits and executive compensation programs. Joy advises employers on health care reform, HIPAA privacy and portability, COBRA, wellness programs, consumer-driven health arrangements (including health reimbursement arrangements and health savings accounts), domestic partnership matters, and funding mechanisms for both active and retiree health programs (e.g. VEBAs and 401(h) accounts). Her practice also includes reviewing and preparing vendor agreements, and counseling regarding governmental audits.

Joy has been co-chair of the firm's Welfare Benefits practice group for nearly 10 years, and is a frequent author on health care reform matters. In addition to advising clients on health and welfare concerns, Joy has substantial experience with qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, voluntary and involuntary separation programs, and executive compensation arrangements. With respect to defined contribution, defined benefit and hybrid plans, she regularly assists clients with day-to-day compliance issues and fiduciary matters (including the investment of plan assets).

Joy's practice includes structuring severance arrangements (and waivers) in case of a reduction in force and restructuring non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements in accordance with Section 409A. Frequently, she has assisted management in structuring the appropriate committees to handle employee benefit plan design and administration, thereby relieving the board of directors of certain fiduciary obligations. Joy has also assisted clients with structuring their employee benefit programs during and after a business merger or acquisition.

  • JD, Loyola University Chicago School of Law
  • BS, University of Florida
  • Illinois