Kara Brunk

Kara’s practice is focused in the areas of Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation. She represents public, private, governmental and non-profit employers in designing and documenting retirement plans, welfare benefit plans, fringe benefit plans and executive compensation plans. 

Recognition

• Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (2021-2023)
• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch^®, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (2021-2024)
• North Carolina Super Lawyers, Rising Stars (2020-2023)
• Staff Member and Contributing Editor, North Carolina Law Review, 2010-2012

Education

• University of North Carolina School of Law, high honors, J.D., 2012
  • Order of the Coif
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with distinction, B.A. in Political Science, 2009
  • Phi Beta Kappa

• Board Member, Food Runners Collaborative, 2017-Present, Secretary, 2019
• Board Member, Raleigh Kiwanis Foundation, 2016-2018
• President, Triangle Benefits Forum, 2016-2019
• Board Member, Domestic Violence Action Project, 2010-11
• Member, Civil Legal Assistance Clinic, 2011-12
• North Carolina Bar Association, Membership Committee, 2017-Present
  • YLD Community Relations Committee, 2016-2017
• Wake County Bar Association 

• Advised a multistate skilled nursing, home care, and I/DD company with employee benefits-related matters in its definitive agreement to acquire the largest home care company in Rhode Island.
• Represented a North Carolina bank and its parent with respect to the employee benefits aspects of an approximately $220 million merger with another bank.
• Advised a life sciences company with employee benefits-related matters in its acquisition of a clinical manufacturing facility for an undisclosed amount.
• Advised a private equity fund and its contract research solutions portfolio company in employee benefits matters related to their acquisition of a statistical programming, consulting, and data management company.
• Advised a life sciences company on its acquisition of a clinical manufacturing facility for an undisclosed amount.
• Advised a company specializing in video game and software development on employee benefits matters related to the definitive agreement to acquire a company that developed a presence-based social networking platform connecting users online through live video on mobile and desktop apps.
• Advised a provider of services to people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities on employee benefits matters related to the acquisition of another provider of support and services to help individuals with developmental and physical disabilities.
• Amending and restating qualified retirement plans to comply with the Pension Protection Act and other changes in the law.
• Advising employers regarding designing and administering benefits plans in compliance with the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA.
• Drafting and revising health and welfare plan documents and summary plan descriptions.
• Assisting employers with identifying and correcting plan errors through DOL and IRS compliance programs.
• Reviewing and amending executive compensation arrangements.
• Advised a leading CRO in Asia on the employee benefits aspects of its acquisition of CRO assets in the United States.
• Advised a publicly-traded health information technologies and clinical research company on the employee benefits aspects of its sale of a consulting line of business.
• Advised a private equity fund on the employee benefits aspects of its acquisition of a specialty pharmaceutical company.
• Advised a leading contract research organization in a definitive agreement to acquire a provider of contract research, clinical and regulatory and other consulting services. Advised specifically on benefits reps, warranties and covenants, conducted due diligence and helped the company navigate integration issues.

• Advised a closely held company, a leading provider of tailored operational, training and technical solutions in support of national security missions, in the sale of its business.