Michael J. Nassau

Great Neck, NY

I started in benefits in 1961 with a firm whose large base of tax clients meant that after six months (all it took to learn the field then), I ran a substantial practice area much as a partner-in-charge. Since this was heady stuff, I did not seek to move out of benefits as most tax associates did. After ERISA, this head start gave my then firm (now Kramer Levin) a respected niche practice, and led to over 100 lecture/seminar appearances or articles, as well as chairmanships of bar committees and similar organizations. Most important of the associated opportunities to shape the law was the effort by the Northeast Region Pension Liaison Group to expand IRS procedures for curing operating defects to include self-correction -- the EPCRS is largely based on that effort. Most importantly, I met and enjoy the friendship of wonderful colleagues, many of whose bios are in this same book., I am particularly indebted to Terry Stuchiner, who appointed me as her successor in chairing the Employee Benefits Committee of the New York State Bar Tax Section, and who became a life-long friend after we met as program panelists and occasional co-chairs in the exciting period of developing ERISA regulations.