Eric M. Winwood

Recent representations on which Eric has advised include:

• Representing American National Insurance in its $5.1 billion acquisition by Brookfield Asset Management Reinsurance Partners (pending). 
• Implementation of executive compensation and employee benefits arrangements in connection with a spinoff transaction for a large publicly traded oil and gas services company.*
• Negotiation of employee benefits and executive compensation terms and conditions for an acquisition of a large publicly traded health company and a business unit disposition for a large publicly traded telecommunications company, and assisted with benefits integration, executive compensation, and retention planning for periods following the transactions.*
• Computation of Section 280G golden parachute compensation payouts in connection with M&A transactions on behalf of technology, food services, oil and gas services, chemical, and aerospace companies.*
• Drafting of legal opinions relating to the “plan assets” status, and negotiation of the governing documents, of various private equity funds and real estate ventures.*
• Negotiation of the employee benefit representations and covenants in numerous credit agreements and note purchase agreements on behalf of borrowers/issuers and major banks.*
• Negotiations on behalf of clients with the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor, including the Employee Benefits Security Administration and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, in connection with audits, filings, corrections, and other business transactions.*
• Negotiations with multiemployer plan trustees and their counsel in connection with the establishment of escrow arrangements relating to a business unit disposition and an acquisition of a major hotel.*
• Coordination with overseas lawyers on providing equity compensation to employees in China, Netherlands, Switzerland, Cayman Islands, and the United Kingdom and the related tax consequences for such employees and their employers.*
• Counseling clients through the process of providing restructured compensation, retention benefits, and other executive compensation payouts in connection with business restructurings and bankruptcies.*
• Preparation of amicus legal briefs for a landmark employee benefits litigation matter.*

*The above matters were handled by Eric prior to joining Sidley.

• State Bar of Texas
• Dallas Bar Association, Employee Benefits Council Member and former Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer
• South West Benefits Association, Dallas Chapter
• Gulf Coast Area TE/GE Council, Chair
• National TE/GE Council, Treasurer