Atty. John C. Khil
John Khil is the Chair of the firm's Tax practice group, and concentrates in tax law with an emphasis on pensions, profit sharing and employee benefits. He is a former attorney-advisor in the Employee Plans and Exempt Organizations Division, Office of Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for providing legal opinions, drafting Treasury regulations, and assisting in the formulation of tax legislation relating to pension and welfare plans.
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) & More Attorney · Serving Honolulu, HI
Profile Summary
About John C. Khil at a Glance
John C. Khil is a employment, business, and tax attorney based in Honolulu, Hawaii, practicing at Carlsmith Ball LLP. Admitted to practice in Hawaii, Hawaii State Bar. Educated at University of Hawaii at Manoa (BS) and University of San Francisco (J.D.). Recognitions include Lawyer of the Year — Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (Honolulu) (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (2026). Serves clients in Honolulu, HI and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About John C. Khil
John Khil is the Chair of the firm's Tax practice group, and concentrates in tax law with an emphasis on pensions, profit sharing and employee benefits. He is a former attorney-advisor in the Employee Plans and Exempt Organizations Division, Office of Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for providing legal opinions, drafting Treasury regulations, and assisting in the formulation of tax legislation relating to pension and welfare plans. Mr. Khil lectures on employee benefit matters and is active in the Employee Benefits Committee of the American Bar Association Section on Taxation. He has been a member of the Subcommittee on ESOPs, TRASOPs, and PAYSOPs, the Task Force on Welfare Benefits Funds, and the Subcommittee on Special Compensation Problems of Small Businesses. He is listed in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2018 for Labor & Employment: Employee Benefits & Compensation (Band 1).
Representative Matters
Qualified Retirement Plans Advise hundreds of employers in the tax treatment and fiduciary obligations relating to the design, investment, and maintenance of plans, including profit sharing, 401(k), money purchase, defined benefit, target benefit, age-weighted, cash balance, ESOPs, and other plans.
Executive Compensation Advise public and private corporations in nonqualified deferred compensation plans and executive compensation, including SERPs stock options, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, rabbi trusts, golden parachutes, and excess benefit plans.
Employee Stock Ownership Plans Handle leveraged employee stock ownership plan transactions for public corporations from acquisition of stock to disposition of stock upon takeover. Structure succession of closely held corporations through tax-deferred sale of stock to ESOPs.
Collectively Bargained Pension & Welfare Trust Funds Advise jointly administered Taft Hartley welfare and pension funds, including qualified 401(k), pension, and VEBA plans, on all facets of tax, fiduciary, and ERISA law compliance.
Prototype Plan Sponsors Represented financial institution in obtaining favorable closing agreement with IRS for failure to timely adopt and amend prototype retirement plan and IRA documents on behalf of customers.
Exempt Organizations Advise tax-exempt health care organizations and other charitable entities in compliance with special deferred compensation requirements such as Sections 457 and 403(b).
Funding Waiver Obtained $30 million pension plan funding waiver from IRS relating to employer's financial distress. Structure hundreds of plan terminations and obtain IRS and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) approvals.
Window Benefit Program Advised public corporation in structure and implementation of early retirement window benefit program, including treatment of age discrimination issues.
Postretirement Medical Plan Advise employers on postretirement medical benefits, cost containment methods, and funding methods for purposes of FAS 106. Draft VEBA and nonqualified plans providing postretirement medical benefits.
Prior Employment
- Internal Revenue Service, Office of Chief Counsel,Attorney-Advisor, Employee Plans and Exempt Organizations Division
Distinctions
- Listed in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2018 for Labor & Employment Law: Employee Benefits & Compensation (Band 1)
- Selected by attorney peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2018 for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Tax Law; listed since 1995
- Selected by attorney peers for inclusion in Super Lawyers for Employee Benefits/ERISA
Affiliations
- Hawai`i State Bar Association
- American Bar Association, Committee on Employee Benefits; Member, Section of Taxation; Subcommittee on ESOP's, TRASOP's, and PAYSOP's and the Task Force on Welfare Benefits Funds; Subcommittee on Special Compensation Problems of Small Business
Practice Areas Explained
John C. Khil's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases John C. Khil handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Honolulu.
Employment Law in Honolulu
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
John C. Khil is one of 167,770 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in Hawaii →
Business & Corporate Law in Honolulu
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
John C. Khil is one of 497,491 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Hawaii →
Tax Law in Honolulu
Tax attorneys handle IRS audits, tax debt, international tax, estate planning, and tax court litigation.
John C. Khil is one of 84,606 tax attorneys indexed nationally. Browse tax attorneys in Hawaii →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Honolulu
Practicing law in Hawaii. Legal matters in Hawaii are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Honolulu are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Hawaii state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Hawaii brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Hawaii courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Honolulu Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Honolulu-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional Hawaii attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Honolulu or all attorneys in Hawaii.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Honolulu Choose John C. Khil
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish John C. Khil's practice in the field of employment, business, and tax.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering employment, business, and tax, John C. Khil can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Honolulu
A Honolulu-based practice means John C. Khil attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues John C. Khil Handles in Honolulu
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters John C. Khil has experience with under Hawaii law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact John C. Khil directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
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How People Find John C. Khil Online
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John C. Khil's Practice Areas & Specializations
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Bar Admissions & Licensed Jurisdictions
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