Legal Series: M&A Transactions & Underfunded Benefit Plan Issues Explored: A 2014 Update

Steve has 30 years of experience in the human resource consulting field and specializes in coordinating the HR aspects of mergers, acquisitions and spin-offs. Steve is a NY-based principal in our Human Resource Transaction Services practice and works on transactions with a full array of private equity and strategic clients. He has significant experience addressing executive compensation and pension issues arising on deals.

Steve has been with PwC for 24 years, including 19 years in New York and five years in London. Prior to joining PwC, Steve qualified as an actuary with a leading UK firm of actuaries. Steve is a fellow of the UK Institute of Actuaries, a Certified Compensation Professional and holds an MBA from the University of Manchester.

Recent thought leadership includes chapters in books by PEI on HR due diligence and PE portfolio compensation.

Shane Stroud’s practice focuses on a wide variety of matters in the areas of employee benefits and executive compensation, including those related to mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, initial public offerings and other extraordinary corporate events (such as private equity and leveraged buyout transactions). Shane also routinely advises clients on excessive compensation, golden parachute and deferred compensation issues.

Shane also counsels clients with respect to bankruptcy, securities, corporate governance and other laws affecting employee benefits and executive compensation matters. He also advises a wide range of companies with regard to designing and drafting equity based and incentive compensation plans. Shane has extensive experience representing both executives and employers with respect to the negotiation and drafting of executive employment and severance agreements.

Ian Levin is a Co-chair of the Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Department of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in New York. Mr. Levin advises a diverse range of clients on the executive compensation and employee benefits aspects of corporate transactions, including industry-defining mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures. In addition, Mr. Levin represents both executives and companies with respect to the negotiation and drafting of executive employment agreements and advises as to the design and establishment of virtually all types of employee benefit arrangements ranging from cash incentive, equity, deferred compensation and change-in-control arrangements to broad-based retirement and welfare plans. Clients rely on Mr. Levin for advice on the fiduciary and plan asset requirements of ERISA, including the structure and offering of various securities and securities products; the formation and ongoing compliance of private equity and hedge funds; the administration, management and investment of employee benefit plans; and compliance with ERISA’s various prohibited transaction rules and exemptions.