We have extensive experience representing businesses (both publicly traded and closely held) and key executives in connection with the formulation, negotiation, drafting and interpretation of employment agreements, severance agreements and a wide variety of executive compensation benefit plans, including stock option plans, phantom stock plans, stock appreciation rights plans, split-dollar life insurance agreements, supplemental executive retirement plans (SERPs), excess benefit plans, top hat deferred compensation agreements and rabbi trusts, including compliance with Code Section 409A. In addition, we have extensive experience with regard to the special executive compensation and benefit needs of tax exempt entities and their executives.
In addition, our attorneys are skilled in all aspects of SEC compliance and tax issues with respect to the compensation plans and arrangements that are adopted by public companies. We are experienced at registering the securities underlying the plans, researching and preparing SEC filings for Section 16 compliance, instructing executives and directors regarding insider trading regulations, and negotiating with institutional and other shareholders to secure approval of new plans at Annual Meetings. Further, we are well versed in the SEC’s executive compensation disclosure requirements for Proxy Statements and Forms 8-K.