Nixon Peabody LLP

199 Best Lawyers awards

Nixon Peabody LLP logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law

Biography

Christian Hancey is a partner in the firm’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation group. He focuses on designing, reviewing and implementing a wide range of benefit and compensation programs structured to suit businesses and nonprofit organizations.

What do you focus on?

I counsel employers on all types of traditional benefit plans, including defined benefit pension plans, 401(k) and 403(b) plans, multiemployer plans, medical benefit plans, cafeteria plans, disability plans and other benefit plans.

I have substantial experience with executive compensation issues. For example, I draft stock-based compensation plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans, supplemental executive retirement plans, severance plans, change-in-control agreements and stock-based compensation plans.

I am actively involved in the firm’s transactional practice, working with employers to manage the transition of employees and their benefits during and after a merger or acquisition, as well as ERISA issues arising when investing in and structuring private equity and similar investments.

Working with employers and administrative committees, I regularly advise on the fiduciary oversight of ERISA plans, including retirement plan investments, appropriate plan expenses and claims for benefits and other plan administration issues.

I also have significant experience advising employers on IRS and Department of Labor audits and enforcement action.

Nixon Peabody LLP

199 Best Lawyers awards

Nixon Peabody LLP logo

Overview

  • University of Virginia, J.D., graduated 1998
  • Brigham Young University, BA

  • New York, New York State Bar Association

  • Monroe County, New York State, and American bar associations - Member
  • New York, New York State Bar Association
  • Monroe County, New York State, and American bar associations - Member
  • University of Virginia, J.D., graduated 1998
  • Brigham Young University, BA

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Awards:
  • Upstate New York Super Lawyers list in 2014-2015

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