Angela M. Stockbridge

Professional Experience

Angela M. Stockbridge is a tax partner who helps business owners, executives, and HR leaders solve employee benefits and executive compensation problems. With experience as in-house counsel and in HR, she gives practical advice to companies and business owners on tax matters.

Employee benefits and executive compensation are the core of her practice. Angela designs nonqualified deferred compensation plans and equity-based compensation plans, including stock options, restricted stock, and phantom equity. She regularly advises on Section 409A compliance and resolves Section 280G issues in sales and mergers. 

Angela has advised publicly traded companies and small businesses alike on retirement and health plan compliance under ERISA, the ACA, and HIPAA. She guides plan sponsors through the EPCRS program when they face compliance issues and has successfully negotiated full penalty abatement for relating to Form 5500 plan returns.   Corporate and employment lawyers bring her in as co-counsel on transactions, from due diligence through closing.

Her tax practice extends beyond benefits. Angela represents businesses and individuals in tax controversies, including federal penalty abatement for plan sponsors and offers in compromise with New York State on sales and income tax liabilities. She advises real estate owners and investors on Section 1031 like-kind exchanges and qualified opportunity zone investments. Angela also counsels individuals, trustees, and their advisors on required minimum distributions, including the 10-year rule for inherited IRAs and trusts named as retirement account beneficiaries.

Angela speaks regularly to HR, benefits, accounting, and legal audiences, including SHRM, the National Institute of Pension Administrators, CPAacademy, and the Dallas Bar Association. She has advised start-ups, privately held businesses, and Fortune 500 companies nationwide.