C. John Wentzell, Jr.
Johnny Wentzell is a principal in the Greenville, South Carolina, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. His practice focuses on employee benefits, ERISA, executive compensation, and taxation.
Johnny represents clients with respect to all types of employer-sponsored employee benefit plans and executive compensation arrangements, such as 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, profit sharing plans, defined benefit pension plans, 457(b) and 457(f) plans for both tax exempt and governmental employers, equity compensation plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans subject to Internal Revenue Code Section 409A, health and welfare benefit plans, and ERISA severance plans. He also advises clients with respect to bonus and incentive compensation programs, fringe benefits, and tax and employee benefits aspects of employment, severance and change in control agreements.
Johnny regularly assists clients in designing and drafting benefit plans, advises clients regarding the legal requirements for operating and administering plans, and prepares and submits filings to the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Labor and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. He also represents clients in IRS and DOL audits.
Johnny works directly with plan fiduciaries, frequently attending investment/retirement committee meetings, regarding their duties under ERISA and limitation of liability. He also advises clients with respect to employee benefits aspects of corporate transactions, such as mergers, acquisitions and spin-offs.
Johnny represents a wide variety of organizations, including public and privately held companies across all industry sectors, state and local governmental organizations, and tax exempt organizations, such as large hospital systems. He also represents individuals with regard to executive compensation matters.
Honors and Recognitions
- The Best Lawyers in America©, "Lawyer of the Year: Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law" (2023)
- The Best Lawyers in America©, "Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law" (2015-present)
Pro Bono and Community Involvement
- Meals on Wheels of Greenville, Board of Directors (2017-present)