The Legal 500 > United States > United States > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP's team is 'very solutions oriented, very practical and extremely competent. They are extraordinarily responsive, and get it all done in a world-class manner'. Despite its modest size, the practice, headed by Eric Hilfers, has an excellent reputation for advising household name corporations on prominent, large-cap M&A transactions. Corporate clients are drawn from sectors including entertainment, telecoms, pharmaceuticals, retail and energy. Jennifer Conway and Jonathan Katz bring expertise in negotiating executive employment and severance agreements as well as in the implementation of cash and equity-based compensation agreements. The group is also recognized for advising high-profile senior management teams throughout corporate transactions. Proxy disclosure, securities and tax-related matters are also included in the team's workload. Named individuals are based in New York.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s employee benefits and executive compensation practice primarily operates from the firm's office in New York. Led by Jonathan Lewis, the team regularly assists a solid client roster of private equity firms and investment funds with big-ticket M&A transactions. Meir Katz is a 'great collaborator and negotiator', who has noted expertise in advising clients on equity-based incentive compensation programs. Franklin Mitchell is a key contact for assisting both investment fund sponsors with ERISA-compliant investment strategies and financial services entities with ERISA fiduciary responsibility matters. Also recommended is Lawrence Cagney, a leading figure in the market.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP’s employee benefits and executive compensation practice has an excellent reputation for advising energy and oil and gas clients on high-profile, high-value M&A transactions. The team is also recognized for its strength in advising on headline restructuring mandates, with New York-based Scott Price and Stephen Jacobson in Houston being retained to assist with the executive compensation aspects of Chapter 11 proceedings. In Chicago, Michael Falk routinely advises on deferred compensation, incentive and equity plans, including issues under the 409A code, while Alexandra Mihalas focuses on the ERISA aspects of major transactions.

Latham & Watkins LLP’s bicoastal employee benefits and executive compensation practice has established strength in advising public companies and private equity firms on high-profile, high-value M&A transactions, and also has equal capabilities in handling headline IPOs. Market leader Bradd Williamson in New York is is a contact in this regard. Restructuring mandates have also been prominent in the team's recent caseload. Also recommended in New York is Austin Ozawa, who has expertise in Title 1 matters, while, in Washington DC, David Della Rocca acts as primary benefits counsel to clients including The Carlyle Group. Los Angeles-based Laurence Seymour and James Metz in Silicon Valley are key contacts on the West Coast.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP’s executive compensation practice is jointly led from New York by Jean McLoughlin, Andrew Gaines and Lawrence Witdorchic, who are active in high-value M&A transactions, most recently on deals in the healthcare, media, technology, hospitality and financial services sectors. The group has notable strength in assisting with tax and securities-related issues pertaining to equity-based benefits and deferred compensation packages. Additionally, the team lends its expertise to restructuring matters, withdrawal liability issues and pension plan investment strategies.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP advises a healthy roster of private equity funds, their portfolio companies and corporate clients on the employee benefits and executive compensation considerations of high-value M&A transactions and IPOs. Practice head Brian Robbins routinely advises on ERISA Title 1, deferred compensation and severance packages, while Gregory Grogan has notable expertise in assisting boards of directors with CEO succession matters. Laurence Moss is a name to note for leveraged buyout transactions. Andrew Blau, Jeannine McSweeney and David Rubinsky regularly advise on deferred and other non-qualified retirement plans, retention agreements, and securities and tax-related issues. In the Palo Alto office, Tristan Brown has noted strength in advising private equity funds and companies in the technology, retail, entertainment and financial services sectors on a wide spectrum of executive compensation issues, particularly on SEC-governed disclosure rules connected to IPOs. Apart from Brown, all named lawyers are based in New York.

The New York-based employee benefits and executive compensation practice at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is well known for advising private equity managers and public companies on IPOs, high-value M&A transactions, spin-offs, and bankruptcies and restructurings. Jeannemarie O’Brien, Adam Shapiro and Andrea Wahlquist are highly regarded practitioners in this space.

Based in New York, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP fields an employee benefits and executive compensation team with an excellent reputation for handling big-ticket M&A transactions, restructurings and bankruptcies. Recent highlights were for clients in the retail, financial services, manufacturing, energy and electronics sectors. Practice head Paul Wessel and Amy Rubin are well known for their expertise in handling the executive compensation issues of M&A, restructurings and IPOs, while Sarah Downie assists a roster of private fund sponsors with ERISA fiduciary compliance and prohibited transaction matters. Also recommended are Michael Nissan, a go-to name for advising private equity funds and their portfolio clients with management compensation arrangements, and Jennifer Britz, who focuses on issues pertaining to equity and incentive compensation plans and severance agreements.

Based in New York, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP’s executive compensation team has been increasingly active in work relating to the healthcare sector. Recent highlights included practice head Jeffrey Ross advising CVS Health on the sale of Coventry Workers’ Comp Services to Mitchell | Genex; the group has also been kept busy handling mandates from financial services, technology and private equity spheres. Another key figure in the transactions-focused team is Donald Carleen, who advises on the structuring of severance, executive employment, and equity-based arrangements relating to M&A transactions. Jason Ertel is a key name for advising asset managers on ERISA compliance and fiduciary matters, as well as 409A deferred compensation issues.

Hogan Lovells US LLP's 'highly professional' team is rated by clients for 'the level of detail and thoroughness they provide on employee benefits matters'. The practice is highly regarded for its strength in handling matters in highly regulated sectors, notably in life sciences and TMT; M&A and transactions specialist Michael Frank in Silicon Valley is a key name in this area. In New York, Martha Steinman is noted for handling director and executive compensation issues and proxy disclosure matters for boards of directors, senior management teams and compensation committees; while Washington DC-based Kurt Lawson is recognized as a 'stellar legal adviser'.

Recent highlights for McDermott Will & Emery LLP's 'responsive and dedicated’ employee benefits and executive compensation team included assisting technology company Aura with long-running benefits issues arising from a M&A transaction, including a subsequent company rebrand and spin-offs; Boston-based Andrew Liazos led on this matter. The firm has notable strength in ESOP transactions, an area where Erin Turley (an 'outstanding partner') and the 'dedicated' Allison Wilkerson, both based in the Dallas office, are key contacts. The client portfolio also includes financial services entities and private equity firms. Chicago-based practice head Todd Solomon is recommended for advising public and private companies and tax-exempt entities on ERISA fiduciary compliance matters.

The team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has notable strength in acting for senior executives and management teams, and is retained by a client roster of corporate clients in the construction, consumer goods, financial services, technology, retail and energy sectors. Recent highlights for the employee benefits and executive compensation team included New York-based Gary Rothstein leading advice to a global financial consulting firm and its senior executive team on its $4.2bn sale by a private equity firm to a consortium led by Stone Point Capital and Further Global. In Pittsburgh, Randall McGeorge is a key name for multi-employer plan matters, with a core focus on withdrawal liability issues.

Proskauer Rose LLP fields a deep bench of employee benefits and executive compensation experts, who enjoy a healthy workflow of corporate restructurings, high-value M&A transactions, joint ventures and IPOs. The team is also noted for advising CEOs and other senior executives on a broad range of executive compensation issues; contacts in this regard are Michael Album, Washington DC-based Joshua Miller and Colleen Hart in the Los Angeles office. Andrea Rattner has experience across the spectrum of equity-based and deferred compensation and benefit plan matters, and Ira Bogner handles ERISA fiduciary issues relating to private fund formations. Paul Hamburger is a highly respected senior partner in the team. Named lawyers are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Shearman & Sterling LLP's New York-based compensation team is headed up by Doreen Lilienfeld, who recently advised telecoms company TELUS International on matters relating to its $935m definitive share purchase agreement to acquire data annotation platform Lionbridge AI. Large-cap M&A transactions, often with cross-border elements, remain a cornerstone strength for the group, with corporate clients drawn from sectors including financial services, technology, retail, manufacturing and media. On the executive compensation side, Gillian Emmett Moldowan assists boards of directors, executives and investors with proxy disclosure rules, deferred compensation programs, equity-based incentive compensation, and severance and retention arrangements; she also has noted expertise in securities-related issues. John Cannon is recommended for advising biotech start-ups on compensation matters.

Winston & Strawn LLP’s employee benefits and executive compensation team recently handled a number of high-value M&A transactions for an established client portfolio of private equity firms, with a focus on the healthcare sector. A key figure in this regard is New York-based practice co-chair Scott Landau, who has led many of the group's recent highlights. In Chicago, Bill Merten is the go-to name for ESOP mandates. He has expertise in advising shareholders, boards of directors and corporations on private equity and public-to-private transactions and ESOP-owned company sales, among other areas. Other names to note in the New York office are Nyron Persaud and associate Maria Kenny; Persaud has extensive experience in ERISA fiduciary compliance and 409A and 280G tax considerations, while Kenny assists with severance, equity and compensation arrangements.

New York-based Andrew Oringer and David Jones in Philadelphia head up Dechert LLP’s employee benefits and executive compensation practice, routinely assisting a solid client portfolio of financial institutions (spanning hedge funds, asset managers and global investment banks) with ERISA fiduciary matters and employee benefit issues arising from M&A mandates. New York-based Steven Rabitz has expertise in prohibited transaction matters and, along with Oringer, garners praise for his ERISA fiduciary knowledge. In Philadelphia, Eric Rubin regularly handles 409A compliance questions, golden parachute negotiations and severance package matters.

Key names for Goodwin’s employee benefits and executive compensation practice are practice co-heads Lynda Galligan and Patrick Menasco, based in Silicon Valley and Washington DC, respectively. The duo assist a client roster of life sciences, technology, and private equity entities with ERISA Title 1 issues, fiduciary matters, big-ticket M&A transactions, IPOs, and fund structuring. Scott Webster retired in October 2020.

Morrison & Foerster LLP counts executive compensation work among its core strengths. Ann Becchina has notable expertise in prohibited transactions and ERISA Title 1 matters, which she regularly handles for investment managers. She also advises global corporations on cross-border executive compensation arrangements. Domnick Bozzetti brings experience in advising on IPOs and equity- and non-equity-based incentive compensation arrangements. Ron Aizen acts for public companies in proxy matters and assists with tax and securities-related questions. San Francisco-based Amanda Hines Gold is very experienced in handling severance and executive employment agreement negotiations. Unless stated otherwise, all named attorneys are based in New York.

Sectors of focus for Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP's employee benefits and executive compensation practice include online payments, medtech, software, retail, technology and financial services. Most recently, the team, which includes practice head Juliano Banuelos, Jason Flaherty and senior associate J.T. Ho, has been advising a solid client roster of public companies on high-value M&A transactions, spin-offs, proxy disclosure issues and deferred compensation negotiations. Named lawyers are based in the San Francisco office.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP's employee benefits and executive compensation team is well established on the West Coast, with attorneys primarily operating from the Silicon Valley and San Francisco offices. In San Francisco, Christine Richardson and Jonathan Ocker provide advice on ERISA fiduciary responsibilities and compliance issues and proxy disclosure matters to clients in the medtech, manufacturing and technology sectors. The practice also maintains an East Coast presence; Peter Hunt and Jessica Lutrin, both based in New York, handle deferred compensation, severance and retention agreements, and equity-based compensation plans. Practice head Cindy Schlaefer operates from the Silicon Valley office.

Recent highlights for Ropes & Gray LLP’s employee benefits and executive compensations team involve advising private equity funds on big-ticket M&A transactions and fund formations. New York-based Joshua Lichtenstein is the key name for ERISA Title 1 matters, and has a strong focus on advising global asset managers. Also in New York, Alexandra Alperovich has established expertise in acting for private equity clients, most recently in the TMT sector. Boston-based Loretta Richard and Renata Ferrari co-head the practice. In June 2020 Adam Stella moved to boutique firm Moulton | Moore | Stella.

Vinson & Elkins LLP’s employee benefits and executive compensation practice has 'the technical knowledge and know-how to communicate complex topics in simple ways. They also know how to provide advice that is balanced and practical'. Oil and gas and energy are core sector strengths for the group, with large-cap M&A transactions forming the bulk of the team's recent workload. Practice head David D’Alessandro has notable expertise in advising on tax and securities-related issues relating to executive compensation matters, and Brian Bloom regularly handles prohibited transaction and fiduciary matters. Shane Tucker is notable for advising REITs and public and private corporations on equity-based compensation arrangements, as well as severance and retention packages. New York-based counsel Julia Petty is 'an excellent communicator and distills complex tax, benefits, labor and securities issues into manageable and actionable sources of advice'. Named attorneys are based in Dallas unless stated otherwise.

Sectors of focus for White & Case LLP’s employee benefits and executive compensation practice include technology, energy and financial services, with private equity funds making up a considerable part of the team's client base. Headed by Henrik Patel, the group has noted expertise in handling mid- and large-cap M&A transactions. Tal Marnin is a key contact for advising private equity sponsors on management compensation issues arising from transactions, including the transfer of C-suite executives. Counsel Kenneth Barr handles 409A and 280G issues, and associate DeVoia Stewart acts on a broad spectrum of corporate transactions. Named lawyers are based in the firm's New York office.

The New York-based employee benefits and executive compensation team at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is notable for working in tandem with the firm's well-established insurance practice in order to provide support on high-value M&A transactions in the sector. Jointly headed by Michael Katz and Jordan Messinger, the team supports a suite of private equity firms and investment funds with ERISA fiduciary compliance issues.

Baker Botts L.L.P.’s 'very responsive' employee benefits and executive compensation team is rated by clients for its 'deep subject matter expertise'. Telecoms, manufacturing, oil and gas and energy are notable areas of strength for the group; key mandates include advising on golden parachute arrangements and incentive compensation plans of M&A acquisitions. Practice head Gail Stewart handles prohibited transactions issues and assists senior executives with severance agreements. Mark Bodron has established strength in advising on ERISA fiduciary matters, IPOs, spin-offs and 409A deferred compensation issues. New York-based Robin Melman acts as executive compensation counsel to boards of directors, private and public companies, and compensation committees. Apart from Melman, named lawyers are based in Houston.

Jointly heading Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP’s employee benefits and executive compensation practice from New York are James Frazier and David Teigman, who 'understand the entire range of compensation options and practices' and are 'effective communicators, always available and very responsive'. The pair provide 'practical advice' to a client roster of investment managers and financial services entities on multimillion-dollar transactions and ERISA fiduciary compliance. Counsel Nicholas LaSpina is recommended for prohibited transaction issues.

The 'very responsive' team at DLA Piper LLP (US) leverages the expertise of the firm's corporate practice to provide a full range of support to clients involved in high-value M&A. Specifically, the firm acts for a client roster of household name entities, with a strong focus on the technology and healthcare sectors. In Chicago, Richard Ashley recently advised HCL Technologies on the 280G and 409A issues associated with its $49m acquisition of the self-optimizing network business of Cisco Systems. Washington DC-based Rita Patel hass expertise in multi-employer welfare arrangements, and Cisco Palao-Ricketts in Silicon Valley is noted for advising emerging growth and start-up companies on retention strategies.

With a reputation for acting 'at the cutting edge of the tech industry', Fenwick & West LLP's employee benefits and executive compensation group provides transactional support to an established base of start-ups and global corporations. Practice head Shawn Lampron 'consistently provides cutting edge, practical advice on some of the trickiest compensation issues'. Scott Spector is noted for his expertise in 409A and golden parachute plans, while Gerald Audant handles a range of equity compensation arrangements, including deferred compensation plans. New York-based Matthew Cantor has particular strength in advising on IPOs and other exit transactions. Apart from Cantor, all named lawyers are based in the Mountain View office.

Holland & Knight LLP’s employee benefits and executive compensation practice is engaged by private equity firms, management teams and public and private companies. Miami-based practice leader Robert Friedman routinely advises on ESOP transactions and ERISA fiduciary compliance issues. In the Philadelphia office, John Martini assists employers and executives with management compensation arrangements. In July 2020 Gregory Brown joined Polsinelli PC in Chicago.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP’s employee benefits and executive compensation practice acts for an impressive client list including private equity firms and companies in the financial services, energy and real estate sectors. OF late, the team has been active in high-value acquisitions, as well as multiple IPOs. The partnership includes Austin-based Anthony Eppert, who handles the range of executive compensation matters and has noted expertise in ESOP transactions and 409A issues; and Dallas-based Scott Austin, noted for his expertise in ERISA fiduciary compliance.

Jones Day’s employee benefits and executive compensation practice recently advised on a suite of high-value M&A transactions and spin-offs in the manufacturing, construction and pharmaceutical sectors. New York-based Eric Mosier has solid expertise in advising private equity funds on leveraged buyout transactions, as well as implementing equity incentive arrangements arising from transactions. In the Cleveland office, Patricia Eschbach-Hall is noted for assisting with cross-border employee issues and handling severance agreements for employer-side clients.

Jeanie Cogill heads up the employee benefits and executive compensation team at King & Spalding LLP, which 'provides pragmatic, business-oriented legal advice with cutting edge solutions'. The group garners praise for its 'deep M&A experience supporting companies and private equity firms in transactions'. Laura Westfall has expertise in handling the full range of equity-based compensation and incentive plans, advising senior executives and employers on retention and severance agreements, and assisting with tax-related issues. Atlanta-based Sam Choy is 'an exceptional employee benefits practitioner'. Named lawyers are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Middle-market M&A is a core strength for Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP’s New York-based employee benefits and executive compensation practice, which has been kept busy of late handling high-profile acquisitions for public and private companies. Financial restructuring work and executive compensation matters have also been prominent in the group's recent caseload. Marissa Holob and Robert Holtzman share leadership of the practice.

Primarily based in Chicago, Mayer Brown's employee benefits and executive compensation group recently acted for Yum! Brands in its $375m acquisition of The Habit Restaurants; Debra Hoffman and Stephanie Vasconcellos led on this matter. Ryan Liebl is noted for advising executives and public and private companies on equity compensation and severance plans, as well as cash-based incentive agreements. Practice head Maureen Gorman is based in the firm's Palo Alto office.

Financial restructuring is a particular field of expertise for Milbank’s New York-based employee benefits and executive compensation practice, with practice co-head Manan Shah advising corporate clients in the retail, gaming, technology, telecoms and financial services sectors on complex Chapter 11 proceedings. Practice co-head Joel Krasnow has extensive expertise in executive compensation matters, and is recommended for handling ERISA fiduciary compliance and prohibited transactions issues.

O'Melveny & Myers LLP's Newport Beach-based employee benefits and executive practice is headed up by Jeff Walbridge. The team has been kept busy advising entertainment, biopharmaceutical and technology sector clients on high-value M&A transactions. Chris Del Rosso is another contact for M&A in this space, while counsel Rebecca Cottrell advises on tax considerations under the 280G and 409A codes.

Headed by Stephen Harris out of the Los Angeles office, Paul Hastings LLP’s practice group acts for an impressive client roster of financial institutions and global corporations, advising on a broad range of compensation and benefits matters. Recent highlights included assisting private equity company Francisco Partners with its $4.3bn acquisition of cloud services company LogMeIn; Dan Stellenberg led on this matter from the Palo Alto office. Washington DC-based Eric Keller assists C-suite clients with executive compensation issues.

Recent transactions for the employee benefits and executive compensation team at Allen & Overy LLP included assisting TP ICAP with its multimillion-dollar acquisition of global electronic investment network Liquidnet. Headed up by Brian Jebb in the New York office, the team is most active in multi-jurisdictional M&A mandates. Also recommended are senior counsels Amanda Albert and Shira Selengut.

Key names in Bracewell LLP’s employee benefits and executive compensation team are practice co-heads Scott Sanders and Matthew Grunert. Recent highlights for the group included acting for public company Prosperity Bancshares in its $2.1bn acquisition of LegacyTexas Financial Group. Energy sector mandates have also made up a notable portion of the team's recent caseload. Sanders and Grunert are both based in the firm's Houston office.

Acting from its established base in Boston, Choate, Hall & Stewart's employee benefits and executive compensation practice is noted for leveraging the firm's tax expertise in order to assist with the tax-related aspects of severance and retention packages, as well as equity compensation arrangements. Wells Miller has notable expertise in advising private equity clients on the full range of executive compensation issues, including tax considerations under the 280G and 409A codes.

Cooley LLP’s employee benefits and executive compensation practice has a strong focus on the technology and life sciences sectors, with an established West Coast footprint. The team cites expertise in handling high-value, high-profile M&A transactions and IPOs. Palo Alto-based Alessandra Murata is recommended for advice on severance packages, tax compliance matters and equity compensation arrangements. In Los Angeles, Barbara Mirza provides advice to companies on the compensation aspects of IPOs. The 'knowledgeable, responsive and business-minded' Joshua Friedman is a key name in the Boston office.

Haynes and Boone, L.L.P.'s employee benefits and executive compensation practice has been advising clients in the energy, healthcare, retail, financial services and food and beverages sectors on high-value acquisitions, restructurings, and benefit transfers. Recent work for the group includes advising hospitality company Landry's on the $745m sale of its online gaming subsidiary, Golden Nugget Online Gaming, to Landcadia Holdings II; practice head Susan Wetzel and associate Scott Thompson led on this matter from the Dallas office. Houston-based Jesse Gelsomini has expertise in incentive compensation and equity arrangements.