Isabel Safie

About Isabel Safie

Practice primarily focuses on issues relating to employee benefits, pensions and other post-employment benefits, and tax.Has advised public employers concerning their ability to modify or reduce pension and retiree health benefits under California’s “vested rights” doctrine and has substantial experience in designing tax-favored funding vehicles for post-retirement benefits and health benefits, such as VEBAs, Section 125 cafeteria plans and health reimbursement arrangements for both private and public employers.Currently serves on the board of directors of Quest Scholars Program, a national nonprofit working to ensure that the nation’s most talented under-served students have access to the top universities in the United States.Member of the State Bar of California, the Riverside County Bar Association, the San Bernardino County Bar Association and the American Bar Association.Fluent in Spanish.

Experience

1. Attorney

   Best Best & Krieger LLP (BBK)

   Sep 2005 — Present

   Counsels public and private sector clients on the design of employee benefit programs and issues presented by the retirement programs and welfare benefit plans they establish and maintain for their employees. She counsels clients on tax requirements as well as on fiduciary obligations under ERISA and state and local pension laws.

Education

• University of California, Los Angeles - School of Law

  Doctor of Law (J.D.)

  2002 — 2005

• Stanford University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Political Science and Government (major); Human Biology (minor)

  1997 — 2002

Skills

• Pensions
• Municipal Law
• Executive Compensation
• Executive Pay
• Employee Benefits
• Retirement Benefits
• Legal Research
• Employment Law
• Health & Welfare Benefits
• Erisa
• Corporate Law