Executive Compensation & Benefits

They were reasonable, very smart, and figured out ways to get a quality deal for both sides.”—Chambers USA

Cadwalader’s Executive Compensation & Benefits attorneys counsel clients across a full spectrum of issues affecting the recruitment, retention, compensation and separation of employees and other service providers in the context of extraordinary corporate events and day-to-day corporate operations. Our clients include public and private companies, tax-exempt entities, boards and individuals across all industries.
 
We respect the sensitive and complex nature of compensation and benefits matters and the increasing scrutiny being placed on these arrangements by investors, regulators,  and the public at large. We also understand that for employers, their employee relationships are some of their most important, and for individuals, their employment arrangements are often the most significant transactions of their lives. Our Executive Compensation & Benefits team helps clients evaluate the risks associated with compensation and benefits arrangements and guides clients toward informed, strategic and tax-efficient results.
 
Our Executive Compensation & Benefits team works closely with our highly-regarded Corporate, Financial Regulation, Financial Restructuring, Investment Management and Tax teams to provide counsel with respect to compensation and benefits matters. We are experienced advisors and negotiators on the intersection of compensation and benefits matters and mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, spinoffs, public and private securities offerings, tender offers, exchange offers, restructurings, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, private equity investments and fund structuring.
 
We are also nationally renowned advisers to executives, representing industry leaders in all fields including financial services, technology, sports, media, real estate and education.
 
Our capabilities include advising on:
  • Equity and cash incentive compensation plans
  • Employee equity offerings
  • Partnership compensation arrangements
  • Rollover equity issues
  • Multi-jurisdictional compensation programs
  • Corporate governance
  • Employment, retention and separation agreements
  • Director independence
  • Restrictive covenant agreements
  • Tax matters
  • Deferred compensation arrangements
  • Section 16 reporting and compliance
  • Golden parachute arrangements
  • Insider trading plans
  • Not-for-profit executive compensation
  • WARN Act
  • Qualified and non-qualified retirement and welfare benefit plans
  • D&O insurance and indemnification
  • Public and private company disclosure, including proxy statements
  • Employment dispute resolution

Our Executive Compensation & Benefits attorneys have significant experience representing clients in seeking relief and guidance from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Internal Revenue Service. We are also experienced at mediating, arbitrating and litigating employment disputes for both employers and employees before state and federal courts, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and private dispute resolution services.

We work hard to stay at the cutting edge of this practice and keep all of our clients advised of the implications of new employment-related laws, regulations and interpretations affecting their businesses.

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2 Attorneys

Bergmann, Michael R. Partner Washington
T. +1 202 862 2258
Frazier, James Partner New York
T. +1 212 504 6963