DLA Piper LLP (US)

DLA Piper LLP (US) advises on the full lifecycle of benefit and incentive arrangements, from early-stage equity plan design to complex public company compensation governance. The group is particularly active in the biotech and technology sectors, where it advises both privately held and publicly traded companies on the design, drafting and evolution of equity award programs. Its practice head Rita Patel sits in the Washington DC office where she advises on the design and administration of stock options, employee stock purchase plans and a range of other equity interests. Also in the DC office are Jonathan Rose, whose practice mainly focuses on ERISA matters, notably fiduciary duty requirements, and Erin Sweeney, whose expertise lies in health privacy, welfare benefit claims, voluntary plans and plan terminations. Richard Ashley is a key name in the Chicago office for his knowledge of complex ERISA Title I matters and high-profile executive compensation matters. Dean Fealk is the go-to for IPO and post-transactional talent strategies in the San Francisco office.