Timothy B. Arends
PEOPLE

Timothy B. Arends

Partner
arends.timothy@dorsey.com

Overview

TIM'S PRACTICE FOCUSES IN THE DESIGN, FORMATION, IRS QUALIFICATION, ADMINISTRATION, MERGER AND TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT, HEALTH, WELFARE AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PLANS.
Tim devotes a substantial portion of his practice to evaluating the effect of employee benefit programs on mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, corporate financing and similar transactions.

Education & Admissions

University of Denver College of Law (LL.M., Taxation, 1993)

University of Denver College of Law (J.D., 1992), General Editor, Denver University Law Review, 1991-1992

Iowa State University (B.B.A., Finance, 1986)

Admissions

  • Colorado
  • Minnesota

Experience

Representative Work

  • Advise Employers on executive compensation programs including compliance with new Section 409A.
  • Advise UnitedHealth Group, Inc. on employee benefit aspects of its merger and acquisitions including its 2005 acquisition of PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc.
  • Advise employers on numerous occasions with regard to the hiring and firing of plan trustees and investment managers, prohibited transaction and fiduciary duty requirements of law, structuring of fiduciary relationships to minimize the legal exposure of the sponsoring employer and its directors, officers and employees and compliance with the ERISA §404(c) participant directed investment regulations.
  • Assisted clients in establishing and amending tax all types of tax qualified retirement plans.
  • Advise clients concerning Individual Retirement Accounts and distribution planning.

Representative Clients

  • UnitedHealth Group, Inc.
  • Canon USA, Inc.
  • Deluxe Corporation
  • Agriliance, L.L.C.
  • Lenox Group Inc.

News & Resources

Industries & Practices

Nonprofit & Tax Exempt Organizations
  • Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Benefits & Compensation
  • Cooperative Law
  • Corporate Governance & Compliance
  • Emerging Companies
  • Energy & Natural Resources
  • Executive Compensation
  • Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
  • Healthcare & Life Sciences
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Nonprofit & Tax Exempt Organizations
  • Technology

Professional & Civic

Professional Achievements

  • Policy Board Member, American Benefits Council
  • Member, IRS Great Lakes Area TE/GE Employee Plans Advisory Council

Accolades

  • Named a Top Lawyer in Employee Benefits Law by Minnesota Monthly, 2024
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America©, 2013-2025

     Pro Bono 100 Hours 2022

  • Contributed more than 100 Challenge pro bono hours, 2022

North Star Lawyer logo

  • MSBA North Star Lawyer, 2022-2023
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America Employment Law Issue, 2021
  • Recognized by Global Law Experts as “Employee Benefits Law - Law Firm of the Year in Minnesota – 2016”
Timothy B. Arends