Attorneys in our executive compensation and benefits group work closely with the most senior executives of our largest clients to address the most sensitive issues facing public and private companies both in the deal and non-deal contexts.  Management succession, board composition and similar issues are essential to the success of business combinations, and executive compensation arrangements often are the foundation of people-based businesses.  Our practice continues to evolve as tax rules, securities laws and corporate governance standards relating to executive compensation continue to expand in response to scrutiny by shareholder activists and the popular press.

Recent transactions in which personnel issues were particularly prominent, and in which our executive compensation and benefits practice played a significant role, include: JPMorgan Chase’s acquisition of Bear Stearns; Wells Fargo’s acquisition of Wachovia; Bank of America’s acquisition of Merrill Lynch; Alltel’s sale to Verizon Wireless; CenturyTel’s acquisition of EMBARQ; the spin-offs of IAC/InterActiveCorp into five companies; Rohm and Haas’ sale to Dow Chemical; NYSE Euronext’s acquisition of the American Stock Exchange; and Oracle’s acquisition of BEA.