Go Back to Employee Benefits + Executive Compensation

Practice

Executive + Equity-Based Compensation

Our attorneys assist clients as they design, implement, and maintain all types of executive and outside-director compensation and incentive programs, including equity-based arrangements, for clients across all major sectors. We offer exceptional knowledge and experience in areas such as:

  • Restricted stock and phantom stock plans.
  • Stock options and stock appreciation rights plans and arrangements.
  • Performance-based pay and bonus plans.
  • Supplemental retirement plans (SERPs), phantom supplemental savings plans, and other nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements.
  • Severance plans.
  • 457(f) plans for tax-exempt organizations.
  • Split-dollar life insurance arrangements.
  • Change-in-control arrangements.
  • Individual employment and consulting agreements.

Additionally, our team advises on the tax consequences of programs for the executive or outside director, including corporate deductibility, income tax, and Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax issues. We also assist clients in compliance with sections 409A, 83, and 280G of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).

In addition to designing compensation programs that address specific tax considerations, our team handles executive compensation issues arising under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosure and reporting requirements for public companies.

  • Legal 500 USA: Labor and Employment: Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and Retirement Plans: Design (Nationwide) (2024-2025)
  • Chambers USA – Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, USA Nationwide (2024-2025)
  • Chambers USA – Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, Texas: Dallas, Fort Worth and Surrounds (2024-2025)
  • Chambers USA – Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, Georgia (2020-2025)
  • Chambers USA – Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, Texas: Houston & Surrounds (2020-2025)
  • Chambers USA – Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, North Carolina (2021-2025)
  • Chambers USA – Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, Pennsylvania (2021-2025)
  • Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”: Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Richmond (Tier 1) 2014-2024
  • Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”: Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Charlotte (Tier 1) 2023-2024; (Tier 2) 2021-2022
  • Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”: Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Atlanta (Tier 2) 2024
  • Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”: Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Dallas (Tier 1) 2024
  • Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”: Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Houston (Tier 2) 2024
  • Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”: Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, New York (Tier 2) 2023-2024
  • Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”: Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Philadelphia (Tier 2) 2020-2024
  • Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”: Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Rhode Island (Tier 1) 2024
  • Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”: Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, National (Tier 1) 2024; (Tier 3) 2020, 2023

Our highest goal? Achieving yours.

Exceptional results are our best practice

Find your professional

This just in

See all insights

Firm News

Virginia Lawyers Weekly Names Troutman Pepper’s Christopher Stock Among 2024 ‘Up & Coming Lawyers’

September 3, 2024

Articles + Publications

IRS Overreaches in Applying Section 409A to Independent Contractors

May 6, 2024

Firm News

Troutman Pepper Advises WSFS in Market Expansion for Bryn Mawr Capital Management

August 14, 2023

Firm News

Troutman Pepper Advises Marsh McLennan Agency in Acquisition of Graham Company

August 9, 2023

See all insights