Anthony E. Antognoli

Partner

Chicago, IL

"In my practice, the only thing more satisfying than solving a complex legal issue is seeing my client’s relief when their problems go away."

312-704-3031

Email YWFudG9nbm9saUBoaW5zaGF3bGF3LmNvbQ==

Anthony E. Antognoli

Partner

Chicago, IL

"In my practice, the only thing more satisfying than solving a complex legal issue is seeing my client’s relief when their problems go away."

312-704-3031

Email YWFudG9nbm9saUBoaW5zaGF3bGF3LmNvbQ==

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About Tony

Tony focuses on representing clients in state and federal taxation, employee benefits, executive compensation, and tax-exempt organization issues, often as related to corporate transactions. Throughout his career, he has served as lead tax and ERISA counsel in over 100 M&A transactions across industries such as health care, technology, construction, legal services, manufacturing, and financial services.

Tony counsels employers on all aspects of qualified retirement, nonqualified deferred compensation, incentive compensation, and welfare benefit plans, including multiemployer pension plan withdrawal liability, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), excess parachute payments under Code Section 280G, employee benefit plans for tax-exempt or governmental employers, and educational assistance and fringe benefit programs. He also has a particular focus on compliance with 2010 health care reform legislation.

Areas of Focus

Industries:

Services:

Experience

Served as lead U.S. tax and employee benefits counsel in the sale of a manufacturer in the food and beverage, cannabis, and pharmaceutical industries, to a multi-national conglomerate. (2024)
Served as lead U.S. tax and employee benefits counsel in the sale of an electrical insulation contractor for the global utility market with employees in the U.S., Europe and Brazil, to a private equity firm. (2024)
Handled all aspects of a multi-year investigation and examination by the U.S. Department of Labor into the activities of a large Taft-Hartley health and welfare benefit fund. (2024)
Corporate counsel to a growing technology company focused on artificial intelligence on its sale to a robot technology firm. (2024)
Obtained full waiver of all proposed penalties and other relief for the President and CEO of a tax-exempt healthcare entity in a $1.1 million dispute with the IRS over misallocated trust fund payroll tax deposits. (2024)

Recognition

The Best Lawyers in America®, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, 2024, 2026
Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyer, 2015 – 2016; Leading Lawyer, Employee Benefits Law, 2018 – present
Illinois Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2012 – 2015

Credentials

Education

Loyola University Chicago School of Law, JD, Certificate in Tax Law, 2000
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, BS, Finance, 1997

Bar Admissions

Illinois

Court Admissions

US Tax Court

Thought Leadership

Presentations

Tony is a frequent speaker and lecturer on tax and employee benefit topics in venues across the country. Among his presentations are the following:

Co-Presenter, "Fiduciary Responsibility: Understanding Your Duties and Obligations," Hinshaw’s 29th Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Schaumburg, Illinois, October 9, 2025
Keynote Speaker, "Fighting the Good Fight: How the Reta Trust is Addressing Challenges from Secular Mandates," 2024 Executive Committee Meetings of the Reta Trust, Denver, Colorado, June 12, 2024

"Feeling Secure with SECURE 2.0," Hinshaw's 27th Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 19, 2023

Co-Presenter, "Update on Employee Benefit Plans," Hinshaw's 26th Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 27, 2022
"Defining Health Plan Eligibility in an Evolving Landscape," 2022 Reta Trust Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 20, 2022
"What’s on the Legal Horizon for Catholic Health Plans and Entities," Board of Trustees Meeting for the Reta Trust, San Francisco, California, December 10, 2021
Co-Presenter, "Insights and Practical Considerations for Business Owners and Lenders Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic," Seminar and Webcast of the State Bar of Wisconsin, April 17, 2020
Co-Presenter, "Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights and Practical Considerations for Business Owners and Lenders," Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Webinar, March 31, 2020
"Update on Fringe Benefits," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Northbrook, Illinois, November 7, 2019
"Storms on the Horizon: Issues of Rising Concern in Employee Benefits Law," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Northbrook, Illinois, October 17, 2018
Co-Presenter, "Hinshaw Employment Webinar Series: Employer-Assisted Student Loan Repayment Programs," Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Webinar, March 8, 2018
"Employee Benefits Law – Policy, Trends and Key Issues to Consider in the Trump Era," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Northbrook, Illinois, October 12, 2017
"Illinois Secure Choice Act Requirements and Association Retirement Plans," Technology and Manufacturing Association, Schaumburg, Illinois, February 9, 2017
"What to Do When the Wolf Comes Knocking: Anticipating and Surviving IRS and DOL Investigations of Employee Benefit Plans," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 2016
"Group Health Plans in the ACA World," Eighteenth Annual Spring Assembly, College of Imaging Administrators, Lisle, Illinois, May 5, 2016
"Avoiding Fiduciary Pitfalls and Tar Pits: Best Practices for Retirement Plans," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 2015
"Practical Tips for Navigating the Latest Challenges in Employee Benefits Law," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 2014
"Health Care Reform Update," Legislative Update, DuPage Society for Human Resource Management, Lisle, Illinois, March 20, 2014
"A to Z for Bank ESOPs," Community Bankers Association of Illinois Seminar for the Community Bank Attorney, Springfield, Illinois, November 15, 2013
"The Employer Mandate Under Health Care Reform: Take a Deep Breath and Get Ready for 2015," Annual Hinshaw Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 2, 2013
"Countdown to 2014 — Offering Health Care Coverage to Employees: Who, What, How, and When?" Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Breakfast Briefing and National Webinar, Chicago, Illinois, June 27, 2013
"Health Care Reform Update: DuPage SHRM Legislative Update," DuPage Society for Human Resource Management, Lisle, Illinois, March 21, 2013
"Labor and Employment Law Update for Health Care Employers," Hinshaw's Annual Health Care Conference, Lisle, Illinois, November 2012
"Affordable Care Act After the Supreme Court Decision," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 2012
"Health Care Reform: It's Alive (for Now)," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 2012
"The Affordable Care Act: A Primer," Significant Recent Legal Changes Impacting Wisconsin Businesses Seminar, Brookfield, Wisconsin, September 2012
"Employee Stock Ownership Plans as a Business and Tax Planning Vehicle," Strafford, Webinar, January 2012
"Using Leveraged ESOPs," Northern Trust, Chicago, Illinois, May 2011
"The Evolving Look of Health Care Reform," DuPage Society for Human Resource Management, Lisle, Illinois, April 2011
"Health Care Reform: Where We Are Now," Illinois Association of School Boards' Joint Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois, November 2010
"Perspectives on Health Care Reform," Hinshaw's 2010 Health Care Conference, Lisle, Illinois, November 2010
"Health Care Reform: Where We Are Now," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 2010
"Health Care Reform," Breakfast Briefing, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Chicago, Illinois, April 2010
"Health Care Reform: The Uncertain Shape of Things to Come," DuPage SHRM Legislative Update Meeting, Naperville, Illinois, April 2010
"Employee Benefits Update – Health Care Reform," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 2009
"Mediation Skills and Strategies," 12th Annual Employment Labor Law Update, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Champaign, Illinois, March 2009
"Annual Employee Benefits Update," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Oak Brook, Illinois, November 2008
"Wellness Programs: Navigating the Waters," 2008 Employee Benefits Seminar and Luncheon, Mid American Group, Inc., Oak Brook, Illinois, May 2008
"Keeping Up with 403(b) Compliance," Professional Development Alliance of Will County Boards of Education, Joliet, Illinois, January 2008
"Employee Benefits Issues in Individual and Mass Terminations," Effectively Dealing with Current Labor & Employment Issues Seminar, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Chicago, Illinois, September 2007
"Retaining Employees Through Employee Benefit Programs," 2007 Annual Convention & Exposition, Life Services Network, Chicago, Illinois, March 2007
"Selected Provisions of the Pension Protection Act of 2006," Effectively Dealing with Current Labor & Employment Issues Seminar, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Lisle, Illinois, November 2006
"The Latest Regulatory and Legislative Changes Affecting Employee Benefits," Effectively Dealing with Current Labor & Employment Issues Seminar, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Chicago, Illinois, September 2005; and Lisle, Illinois, November 2005

Publications

Chapter 8, "Special Employee Plan Issues Arising in Reduction in Force or the Sale of the Employer," Employment Termination: Procedures, Grounds, and Challenges, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Editions: 2011, 2013, 2018, and 2022

Quoted, "Debt Busters," PLANSPONSOR Magazine, June-July 2020
Quoted, "7th Circuit Leaves EEOC Concerns About Employer Wellness Program Unaddressed," Westlaw Journal: Employment, Thomson Reuters, February 28, 2017
Quoted, "Is Your Business Ready to Prevent Workplace Violence?" Crain’s Chicago Business, September 6, 2014
Quoted, "Weighed in the Balance," Poder Magazine, October/November 2013
Quoted, "Big Suburban Firms Joining Private Health Exchanges," Daily Herald, September 9, 2013
Quoted, "Fiduciaries Take the Heat," Human Resource Executive Magazine, August 2009
Co-Author, Comments to the Internal Revenue Service from the Chicago Bar Association’s Employee Benefits Committee on the future of the Employee Plans Determination Letter Program, August 2003
Co-Author, "State Taxation of Business Trusts: Limits, Concerns and Opportunities," Journal of Multi-State Taxation, February 2000, reprinted by Business Entities, September/October 2000
Co-Author, "Fiduciary Duties Under the 'Serious Consideration' Standard," DC Plan Investing, November 2000

Blog Posts

Finally Some Good News for Employers Challenging Pension Withdrawal Liability Assessments, Dec 19, 2019
Employers Need to Go Back to the Drawing Board for Their Wellness Program Incentives, Feb 11, 2019
District Court Judge Stops HHS Regulations Regarding Contraception Mandate, Jan 15, 2019
IRS Releases New Tables for Employee Income Tax Withholding, Jan 12, 2018
EEOC Ordered to Reconsider What “Voluntary” Means for its Wellness Program Guidance, Aug 24, 2017

Events

26th Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Thursday, October 27, 2022 | 9:00 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
24th Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, November 7, 2019
Employer-Assisted Student Loan Repayment Programs: Best Practices and Tips for Success, Mar 8, 2018
Hinshaw's 22nd Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Oct 12, 2017
Hinshaw's 21st Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Oct 20, 2016

Healthcare Alert

New Mandate on Coverage for Contraceptives: Strategies for Organizations, Feb 3, 2012

Hinshaw Alerts

Hinshaw Newsletters

Labor & Employment Chronicle - Spring 2019 Edition, May 10, 2019
Employment Practices Newsletter - June 2016 Edition, Jun 2, 2016
Employment Practices Newsletter - January 2016 Edition, Jan 5, 2016
Employment Practices Newsletter - February 2014 Edition, Feb 3, 2014
Employment Practices Newsletter - April 2013 Edition, Apr 1, 2013

In The News

Insights for Employers Alerts

Press Releases

Webinars

View all of Tony's Insights

Interests

Did you know…

Tony is now "retired" from his very rewarding and at times victorious career in youth sports, coaching his four children. From 2012 to 2023, he volunteered as head coach or assistant coach for multiple teams in baseball, basketball, soccer, flag football, and girls softball, participating in local and travel leagues affiliated with Naperville Little League Baseball, Naperville Park District, Lisle Baseball/Softball, Wheatland Athletic Association, and Lisle/Woodridge Park District.

Tony and his family are active members of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Naperville, Illinois, where they have volunteered in recent years to lead the annual Parish "Chili Cook-Off."

Thought Leadership

Presentations

Tony is a frequent speaker and lecturer on tax and employee benefit topics in venues across the country. Among his presentations are the following:

Co-Presenter, "Fiduciary Responsibility: Understanding Your Duties and Obligations," Hinshaw’s 29th Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Schaumburg, Illinois, October 9, 2025
Keynote Speaker, "Fighting the Good Fight: How the Reta Trust is Addressing Challenges from Secular Mandates," 2024 Executive Committee Meetings of the Reta Trust, Denver, Colorado, June 12, 2024

"Feeling Secure with SECURE 2.0," Hinshaw's 27th Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 19, 2023

Co-Presenter, "Update on Employee Benefit Plans," Hinshaw's 26th Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 27, 2022
"Defining Health Plan Eligibility in an Evolving Landscape," 2022 Reta Trust Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 20, 2022
"What’s on the Legal Horizon for Catholic Health Plans and Entities," Board of Trustees Meeting for the Reta Trust, San Francisco, California, December 10, 2021
Co-Presenter, "Insights and Practical Considerations for Business Owners and Lenders Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic," Seminar and Webcast of the State Bar of Wisconsin, April 17, 2020
Co-Presenter, "Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights and Practical Considerations for Business Owners and Lenders," Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Webinar, March 31, 2020
"Update on Fringe Benefits," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Northbrook, Illinois, November 7, 2019
"Storms on the Horizon: Issues of Rising Concern in Employee Benefits Law," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Northbrook, Illinois, October 17, 2018
Co-Presenter, "Hinshaw Employment Webinar Series: Employer-Assisted Student Loan Repayment Programs," Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Webinar, March 8, 2018
"Employee Benefits Law – Policy, Trends and Key Issues to Consider in the Trump Era," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Northbrook, Illinois, October 12, 2017
"Illinois Secure Choice Act Requirements and Association Retirement Plans," Technology and Manufacturing Association, Schaumburg, Illinois, February 9, 2017
"What to Do When the Wolf Comes Knocking: Anticipating and Surviving IRS and DOL Investigations of Employee Benefit Plans," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 2016
"Group Health Plans in the ACA World," Eighteenth Annual Spring Assembly, College of Imaging Administrators, Lisle, Illinois, May 5, 2016
"Avoiding Fiduciary Pitfalls and Tar Pits: Best Practices for Retirement Plans," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 2015
"Practical Tips for Navigating the Latest Challenges in Employee Benefits Law," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 2014
"Health Care Reform Update," Legislative Update, DuPage Society for Human Resource Management, Lisle, Illinois, March 20, 2014
"A to Z for Bank ESOPs," Community Bankers Association of Illinois Seminar for the Community Bank Attorney, Springfield, Illinois, November 15, 2013
"The Employer Mandate Under Health Care Reform: Take a Deep Breath and Get Ready for 2015," Annual Hinshaw Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 2, 2013
"Countdown to 2014 — Offering Health Care Coverage to Employees: Who, What, How, and When?" Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Breakfast Briefing and National Webinar, Chicago, Illinois, June 27, 2013
"Health Care Reform Update: DuPage SHRM Legislative Update," DuPage Society for Human Resource Management, Lisle, Illinois, March 21, 2013
"Labor and Employment Law Update for Health Care Employers," Hinshaw's Annual Health Care Conference, Lisle, Illinois, November 2012
"Affordable Care Act After the Supreme Court Decision," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 2012
"Health Care Reform: It's Alive (for Now)," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 2012
"The Affordable Care Act: A Primer," Significant Recent Legal Changes Impacting Wisconsin Businesses Seminar, Brookfield, Wisconsin, September 2012
"Employee Stock Ownership Plans as a Business and Tax Planning Vehicle," Strafford, Webinar, January 2012
"Using Leveraged ESOPs," Northern Trust, Chicago, Illinois, May 2011
"The Evolving Look of Health Care Reform," DuPage Society for Human Resource Management, Lisle, Illinois, April 2011
"Health Care Reform: Where We Are Now," Illinois Association of School Boards' Joint Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois, November 2010
"Perspectives on Health Care Reform," Hinshaw's 2010 Health Care Conference, Lisle, Illinois, November 2010
"Health Care Reform: Where We Are Now," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 2010
"Health Care Reform," Breakfast Briefing, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Chicago, Illinois, April 2010
"Health Care Reform: The Uncertain Shape of Things to Come," DuPage SHRM Legislative Update Meeting, Naperville, Illinois, April 2010
"Employee Benefits Update – Health Care Reform," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 2009
"Mediation Skills and Strategies," 12th Annual Employment Labor Law Update, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Champaign, Illinois, March 2009
"Annual Employee Benefits Update," Hinshaw's Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Oak Brook, Illinois, November 2008
"Wellness Programs: Navigating the Waters," 2008 Employee Benefits Seminar and Luncheon, Mid American Group, Inc., Oak Brook, Illinois, May 2008
"Keeping Up with 403(b) Compliance," Professional Development Alliance of Will County Boards of Education, Joliet, Illinois, January 2008
"Employee Benefits Issues in Individual and Mass Terminations," Effectively Dealing with Current Labor & Employment Issues Seminar, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Chicago, Illinois, September 2007
"Retaining Employees Through Employee Benefit Programs," 2007 Annual Convention & Exposition, Life Services Network, Chicago, Illinois, March 2007
"Selected Provisions of the Pension Protection Act of 2006," Effectively Dealing with Current Labor & Employment Issues Seminar, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Lisle, Illinois, November 2006
"The Latest Regulatory and Legislative Changes Affecting Employee Benefits," Effectively Dealing with Current Labor & Employment Issues Seminar, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Chicago, Illinois, September 2005; and Lisle, Illinois, November 2005

Publications

Chapter 8, "Special Employee Plan Issues Arising in Reduction in Force or the Sale of the Employer," Employment Termination: Procedures, Grounds, and Challenges, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Editions: 2011, 2013, 2018, and 2022

Quoted, "Debt Busters," PLANSPONSOR Magazine, June-July 2020
Quoted, "7th Circuit Leaves EEOC Concerns About Employer Wellness Program Unaddressed," Westlaw Journal: Employment, Thomson Reuters, February 28, 2017
Quoted, "Is Your Business Ready to Prevent Workplace Violence?" Crain’s Chicago Business, September 6, 2014
Quoted, "Weighed in the Balance," Poder Magazine, October/November 2013
Quoted, "Big Suburban Firms Joining Private Health Exchanges," Daily Herald, September 9, 2013
Quoted, "Fiduciaries Take the Heat," Human Resource Executive Magazine, August 2009
Co-Author, Comments to the Internal Revenue Service from the Chicago Bar Association’s Employee Benefits Committee on the future of the Employee Plans Determination Letter Program, August 2003
Co-Author, "State Taxation of Business Trusts: Limits, Concerns and Opportunities," Journal of Multi-State Taxation, February 2000, reprinted by Business Entities, September/October 2000
Co-Author, "Fiduciary Duties Under the 'Serious Consideration' Standard," DC Plan Investing, November 2000