Why Paul, Weiss

Our Executive Compensation Practice Group plays a pivotal role in the majority of transactions the firm handles on behalf of our clients. From creating, negotiating and modifying change-in-control arrangements to addressing issues that arise in connection with the assumption of (or the failure to assume) benefit plans and other employee obligations, we provide sophisticated advice that our clients expect and require to execute their most complicated strategic deals. Today the group has over thirty-five dedicated professionals, including five partners.

Our executive compensation lawyers counsel clients regularly about ERISA-regulated retiree medical and pension benefits, including liabilities to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and multiemployer (union) pension plan withdrawal liabilities. They often provide critical support to the firm's restructuring practice.

Teaming with the Investment Management Group, our executive compensation experts counsel market-leading investment firms in structuring their funds, acquisitions and dispositions and in managing ERISA fiduciary responsibility to minimize their risk and maximize their return.

Our lawyers also handle the most complicated employee benefits plan and executive compensation matters. They have extensive experience in designing and implementing innovative employment contracts and cash and equity-based incentive arrangements for senior management of public and private companies.

Our Practice

The Paul, Weiss Executive Compensation Practice Group is a highly accomplished team that has earned national recognition for the excellence of their work. The team is well-known for their ability to translate the highly technical aspects of employee benefits and executive compensation law into practical advice.

We offer sophisticated skills and exceptional experience in a variety of settings including public and private corporate transactions, executive compensation arrangements and in support of the firm's ERISA litigation and restructuring practices, advising on not only legal, but also tax, accounting, actuarial and human resource issues.

As a key participant in all of the firm's transactional work, our team counsels on benefits issues connected with corporate takeovers, sales and going-public and going-private transactions. We assist our litigators in prosecuting, defending and settling significant ERISA-related claims, including the defense of fiduciary breach claims.

We design and implement cutting-edge executive compensation arrangements, including deferred compensation, supplemental retirement pensions and equity-based compensation, employment termination, and non-compete arrangements. We have superior experience and expertise in evaluating the tax, securities law, accounting and corporate fiduciary issues that arise under deferred compensation and equity-based pay plans, including Section 162(m), Section 409A and "golden parachute" issues.

Our work involves counseling for the plan sponsor or for the money manager. We work with the Paul, Weiss Investment Management Group in structuring, implementing and operating investment funds whose investors include employee benefit plans subject to ERISA. We field questions involving ERISA's fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction rules. This work involves representing both ERISA plan sponsors and investment managers.

Together with the Paul, Weiss Personal Representation Department, we also have given benefit plan advice to individuals and estates with substantial retirement plan assets.