Representation of senior executives, founders, and partners requires a sophisticated understanding of the business issues that can lead to disputes and those that may illuminate potential paths to resolution. Discretion and respect for the preservation of reputation and business relationships are paramount, as is a grasp of complex compensation arrangements, including various types of equity and deferred compensation.

Our firm has developed a strong reputation in the business and investment community, as well as the legal community, for top tier representation of C-level executives, investment firm partners, entrepreneurs, and other prominent leaders in their fields. We have represented the senior executives of many of the largest and most well-known public and private companies in the world, including tech, finance, life sciences, insurance, and healthcare. We have also represented founders of start-ups (including following acquisitions) and technical professionals at the pinnacle of their fields.

We recognize that a compensation, discrimination, or retaliation issue involving a highly-compensated individual can have substantial economic and reputational consequences, and we are committed to ensuring an appropriate resolution. For example, we negotiated a $12 million settlement for a technology company EVP in an age discrimination case; an $11 million settlement of a gender discrimination case on behalf of a technical leader; and a $5 million bonus for a co-founder of a life sciences company.

In addition, we have represented senior partners of prominent investment firms, including venture capital, private equity, hedge funds, and investment banks, as well as portfolio managers, top II-rated analysts, and senior executives at large banks, brokerage firms, and other financial institutions. We have helped these individuals negotiate multi-million dollar transitions, including the retention or liquidation of significant carry interest. In some cases, we have filed legal claims against investment firm partners for discrimination, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, breach of partnership agreements, and related claims.

Our reputation for handling high-stakes employment cases stems from our work handling landmark high-profile trials, for example Ellen Pao v. Kleiner Perkins, and other important and widely publicized cases, such as the sexual harassment case brought by co-founder Whitney Wolfe against Tinder. However the vast majority of the matters in which we represent well-known executives and professionals are resolved confidentially. We understand and respect the unique issues confronting these clients, including the potential impact a legal claim might have on the value of their equity or their future opportunities.