Leveling the Playing Field for Employees Fill out the contact form or call us at (312) 269-0200 or (402) 951-9330 to schedule your consultation. Many people are unaware that severance packages often qualify as welfare plans under ERISA.As a result, certain severance packages may be regulated. Severance Negotiations - Chicago Employment Litigation Lawyer. Employees in Chicago often negotiate severance into their employment contracts separate from any companywide severance program. Attorney Mark DeBofsky is the founding member of DeBofsky Law and adjunct professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago Law School. Cotler Law LLC has extensive experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating Severance Agreements. Contact Us. (847) 498-6040. If there is uncertainty about severance benefits forming a welfare ERISA Plan, the best practice is to receive advice from an ERISA attorney. 1.1 The name of the Plan is the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago Employee Severance Plan.