Ms. Wilkerson joined the Dallas office of K&L Gates in 2011. Ms. Wilkerson focuses in the area of ERISA with respect to employee benefits including qualified plans, non-qualified plans, and executive and deferred compensation. Ms. Wilkerson focuses on advising employers in the design, implementation, and administration of tax qualified and nonqualified retirement plans and representing clients before the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Labor in audit and correction matters. Ms. Wilkerson has extensive experience in advising employers with respect to issues raised in connection with corporate mergers, acquisitions and divestitures as they relate to the various benefit plans maintained by the affected corporate entity or entities. Ms. Wilkerson also has extensive experience in employee stock ownership plans (ESOP) and has been involved in numerous ESOP transactions including leveraged buy-outs, mergers, acquisitions, and the structuring and financing of ESOPs using private equity. Ms. Wilkerson also has an executive compensation practice that focuses on counseling clients regarding the compensation, benefits and severance of directors, executive officers and other employees. Ms. Wilkerson has worked with multiple forms of executive compensation and benefit plans, including the design and administration of stock plans, incentive plans, and nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements.