Senior Executive Compensation & Benefits Attorney
New York, NY | Hybrid | $390K - $455K Base
Shields Group Search is partnered with a top-tier law firm client on a search for a senior-level attorney to join its Executive Compensation & Benefits practice in New York.
We are seeking an attorney in roughly the 2016-2020 class year range or Counsel equivalent with deep experience in executive compensation and benefits from a major law firm. This person should be comfortable leading the executive compensation workstream in complex corporate transactions and have a track record of advising boards, companies, and executives on high-stakes compensation matters.
Bonus points if you have experience with public company disclosure, compensation committee counseling, or cross-border equity arrangements.
Compensation
Base salary: $390K - $455K
Hybrid Work Policy
This is a hybrid role based in New York. Attorneys are expected to be in the office Monday through Thursday, with eligibility to work remotely for specified periods during the year.
Seniority
- 4-8 years of experience
- Experience as a practicing attorney in a major law firm’s Executive Compensation & Benefits group
Work Experience
- Senior Associate 2016-2020 class years or Counsel level
- Currently at a major law firm in an Exec Comp group
- Primary focus is transactional (M&A, PE, IPOs), not compliance
- Has independently run deal workstreams for executive compensation
Education
- Juris Doctor (JD) from a reputable law school
Hard Skills
- Drafted core exec comp documents from scratch, for example employment agreements
- Ability to run diligence and drive deliverables under deadlines
- Solved complex Section 409A and 280G issues in live deals
- Experience with public company disclosure such as CD&A support
- Experience with cross-border equity or restructuring-related benefits
Soft Skills
- Strong communication and collaboration with corporate deal teams
- Can operate with autonomy and minimal partner oversight
- Explains complex technical rules clearly to non-specialists
- Maintains precision and error-free drafting under tight deal deadlines
Miscellaneous
- Holds New York bar membership or has a clear path
What You’ll Do
- Support M&A, private equity, spin-offs, IPOs, and restructuring matters on all executive compensation and benefits issues
- Take ownership of diligence reviews, identifying liabilities and deal risks related to benefit plans and executive arrangements
- Work closely with corporate, tax, and governance teams to draft and negotiate transaction agreement provisions related to employee benefits and executive compensation
- Advise on equity award treatment in deals, including cash-out, assumption, conversion, acceleration, and retention packages
- Lead the structuring and documentation of executive employment agreements, severance arrangements, and equity incentive plans
- Analyze and solve complex tax issues related to Sections 409A (deferred compensation), 280G (golden parachutes), and 162(m) (deductibility limits)
Why Candidates Should Join
- Deal-facing Executive Compensation role at an elite platform
- You’ll run complex exec comp workstreams in major M&A deals, private equity transactions, IPOs, and restructurings, not back-office compliance work
- Direct board and compensation committee exposure where your advice shapes deal terms and governance outcomes
- Premium compensation at $390K-$455K base plus discretionary bonus for senior associate / counsel level
- Enhanced lateral mentor program specifically designed for experienced attorneys transitioning firms
- Hybrid work model with Monday through Thursday in office and defined remote flexibility periods
- You’ll draft and negotiate core documents independently, including employment agreements, severance packages, equity plans, and change-in-control arrangements
- Real ownership of 409A and 280G issues in live transactions where mistakes can kill deals
- Strong professional development infrastructure and meaningful pro bono credit
- Our client’s Executive Compensation group sits at the center of major corporate events, you won’t be peripheral to the action
If this looks relevant, feel free to reach out directly.
