The New York-based team at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP focuses on executive compensation and benefits issues arising in complex corporate transactions. It assists clients in analyzing the associated legal and financial risks, negotiating all executive compensation and benefits aspects of transactions, developing succession arrangements and other compensation and benefits plans, and navigating the related securities, disclosure, corporate governance, tax, ERISA, and accounting considerations. The practice is led by Eric Hilfers, described by clients as ‘remarkable to work with’, focuses on executive compensation and employee benefits matters in connection with mergers and acquisitions and other business transactions. In addition to handling executive compensation matters, Jonathan Katz also oversees a range of human resources-related issues and ensures compliance with securities laws. Matthew Bobby is also a key member of the practice. Amanda Hines Gold has departed the team.
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Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘This team integrates all the different elements of employee benefits, executive compensation, and retirement plans seamlessly to provide world class strategic and tactical advice.'
‘Eric Hilfers is remarkable to work with, pulls in the entire firm and then also reflects on his time in M&A into employee benefits, executive compensation, and retirement plans related advice. Just unparalleled.’
Key clients
- Aquarion Water Authority
- Bridge Investment Group
- Endeavor
- Frontier
- Johnson & Johnson
- Kenvue
- Occidental Petroleum
- Paramount
- PepsiCo
- The Walt Disney Company
- Wiz
Work highlights
Advised on executive compensation and benefits to the special committee of the board of directors of Paramount Global in connection with Paramount’s $28billion merger with Skydance.
Advising on executive compensation and benefits to Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. in connection with its pending $20billion acquisition by Verizon Communications Inc.
Advising on executive compensation and benefits to Kenvue in connection with its pending $48.7 acquisition by Kimberly Clark.
Lawyers
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Practice head
Eric Hilfers
Other key lawyers
Jonathan Katz; Matthew Bobby