Misty Leon's Linkedin Analytics

I am an in-house attorney with over 20 years’ experience advising a wide range of clients, including C-Suite and senior management, on employee benefits, executive compensation, and other matters. I counsel senior management on critical legal concerns and strategy with a keen focus on meeting the company’s goals for hiring, engaging, and retaining great talent and creating cultures where employees can thrive. My clients say I am an invaluable resource and trusted advisor because of my exceptional ability to balance potential risks with practicality. I believe the foundation of becoming a trusted partner is establishing collaborative relationships built on reliability, responsiveness, trust, and authenticity. In addition, my proven ability to distill and simplify complex legal concepts and communicate solutions in plain English has led me to be a valued member of the team. Prior to going in-house, I was a partner at a boutique firm and worked at several global law firms. I have an established record of guiding clients through complex regulatory challenges, with a pragmatic, business-minded approach. I pride myself on being an active listener and understanding all relevant goals and concerns before tackling a project and making recommendations. I am a versatile problem-solver and relate well with all levels of management and employees. I apply sound judgment and consistently operate with a sense of urgency, flexibility, and emotional intelligence. My experience includes: ● Acting as my company’s sole benefits attorney, responsible for growing its internal legal function and oversight of legal compliance for all global benefit plans and programs ● Advising corporate governance, finance, payroll, and treasury on plan audits and annual reports, benefits funding, payment of expenses, and plan governance concerns ● Serving as secretary and advisor to plan investment and administrative committees comprised of C-suite and senior management representatives, to ensure fiduciary compliance and assist with prioritizing plan initiatives ● Ensuring compliance with tax and other requirements applicable to benefit plans, executive and equity compensation, VEBA trusts, and employee fringe benefits ● Overseeing outside counsel, with a significant reduction in annual outside counsel spend ● Partnering with key stakeholders on tax, employment, privacy, and other legal matters ● Spearheading IRS, DOL, and PBGC client audits, investigations, and corrections ● Defending complex ERISA litigation matters