Stephen C.
Kisling
Steve Kisling likes to make things simple for his clients, which is fortunate considering the complexity of his employee benefits and tax practice.
Calm, patient and always composed, Steve enjoys helping business owners, benefits professionals and human resources personnel by relieving some of the strain and worry that comes with the administration of benefit plans.
Whether it is a quick call to address a discrete tax or drafting question or a lengthy strategic discussion, Steve provides answers and advice as clearly and painlessly as possible.
Steve has more than 30 years’ experience in tax and planning matters, from both the public sector enforcement and guidance perspective and the private sector creation and compliance perspective. He is a frequent lecturer on issues concerning benefits and general tax matters. Additionally, Steve has served as chair of the Employee Benefits Committee of the Cincinnati Bar Association.
At Katz Teller, Steve is the chair of the firm’s benefits committee and a member of the firm’s administrative and retirement plan committees.
Awards and Honors
- Named as 2023 Lawyer of the Year in Employee Benefits/Tax Law in Cincinnati by Best Lawyers in America®
- Named “Lawyer of the Year” for Cincinnati in Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law for 2016 by Woodward/White’s Best Lawyers in America®
- Named as one of the Best Lawyers in America® every year since 2006
Professional Memberships
Since 1980, Steve has represented employers (with an emphasis on health care organizations) in all aspects of qualified profit sharing and defined benefit plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans, and executive compensation arrangements, including Section 409A compliance. He regularly works with clients in dealing with governmental agencies including the IRS and the Department of Labor on retirement plan audits and other administrative matters. His experience includes:
- Design and implementation of multi-tiered employee benefit programs pursuant to a major restructuring of a large healthcare provider in greater Cincinnati
- Design and implementation of qualified defined benefit plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans for smaller employers to provide significant benefits to attract and retain key employees
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION EXPERIENCE
Steve also represents various non-profit organizations with respect to their formation, tax-exemption and ongoing operations.
Community Involvement
Education
- University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce Law Center, J.D., 1976
- Ohio Wesleyan University, B.A., 1973