Compensation & Benefits Associate: NQ - 5PQE

Cooley LLP; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Cooley LLP in London seeks a full-time associate to join its Compensation & Benefits practice. You will draft and negotiate equity plan rules, award agreements and related documents for private and public company clients, and support ongoing plan maintenance.

You will support EMI/CSOP qualifying conditions, non-qualifying options, growth shares, and advise on cross-border matters with US colleagues and tax advisers on venture financings, M&A and IPO work.

Qualifications

• UK qualified lawyer with 0–5 PQE in London or equivalent international experience.
• Experience in compensation and benefits at a top-tier firm is preferred.
• Knowledge of equity incentive schemes and UK tax-advantaged options is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate equity plan rules, award agreements and ancillary documents for private and public company clients.
• Support EMI and CSOP qualifying conditions, non-qualifying options, growth shares and other equity instruments.
• Assist with compensation and equity diligence on venture financings and M&A transactions.
• Support on funding rounds, change of control, restructurings and exit events.
• Assist with IPO and secondary offering workstreams.
• Coordinate with Cooley US and local counsel, tax advisers, and corporate deal teams on cross-border matters.

Skills

Compensation & Benefits

Equity incentives

Cross-border experience

Education

UK qualified lawyer (NQ-5PQE)

Job description

About Cooley

Cooley is a leading global law firm with over 1300 lawyers across 19 offices in the United States, Asia and Europe, working with innovative often disruptive companies and investors across all stages.

Cooley is a leading global law firm with over 1300 lawyers across 19 offices in the United States, Asia and Europe, working with innovative often disruptive companies and investors across all stages. Our London office has strengths across many of the firm’s core practice areas, among them compensation & benefits, corporate/M&A, venture capital, capital markets, technology and life sciences transactions, IP, complex high-stakes litigation, product compliance & liability, tax, competition, employment, fraud, data protection and privacy. Our clients partner with us on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters and high-stakes litigation where innovation meets the law. As a firm we constantly strive to deliver the highest quality work and superior service on every matter entrusted to us. Working at Cooley provides an opportunity for collaboration, challenge and reward. We are all part of one firm dedicated to maintaining a diverse workplace that values and celebrates differences. It is the unique abilities and perspectives of every individual at Cooley that creates a rewarding workplace, and a key part of what makes us Cooley. Our people-first culture, philosophy and firmwide commitment to inclusion and wellness is central to our success and the driving forces behind our global growth. Our cooperative spirit is the trademark of the Cooley culture and every employee in every department is instrumental to the success of the firm. Cooley is devoted to continually advancing our standing as one of the world’s greatest law firms, and we believe part of that is achieved when we live up to the promise of making our firm a great place to work.

The Role

Cooley's London Compensation & Benefits practice is seeking a full-time associate to join its UK team.

The Practice

Work spans five interconnected areas:

• Transactional. All equity incentives related matters on cross border public and private M&A, venture financings, and IPOs including structuring, diligence, and transaction documentation
• Emerging companies & venture capital. Equity incentive structuring and ongoing advisory work for start-ups and scale-ups across funding rounds. EMI, CSOP and unapproved option schemes, growth shares, and other incentives. Clients range from pre-revenue start-ups to late-stage companies preparing for exit or listing.
• Listed company advisory. Ongoing equity plan compliance and maintenance for UK and US public companies (primarily being US listed).
• Cross-border. Multi-jurisdiction equity plans; coordination of UK, US, and rest of world advice.
• Employment support. Equity incentives form a key part of our clients c-suite hirings and terminations.

Our clients are headquartered in the UK, US and around the world, and have global workforces.

What You Will Do

• Depending on experience, draft and negotiate equity plan rules, award agreements, and ancillary documents for both private and public company clients.
• Support on EMI and CSOP qualifying conditions, non-qualifying options, growth shares, and other equity instruments across the company lifecycle.
• Support on compensation and equity diligence on venture financings and M&A transactions.
• Support on treatment of equity on funding rounds, change of control, restructurings and exit events.
• Support IPO and secondary offering workstreams.
• Coordinate with Cooley US other local counsel, tax advisers, and corporate deal teams on cross-border matters.

What We Are Looking For

• Experience working in compensation and benefits (or equivalent team) in a top-tier UK, US or international firm in London.
• Depending on experience, solid understanding of UK tax advantaged and unapproved option schemes, growth shares, and/or equity incentive plans. Some understanding of typical arrangements in the US and other jurisdictions would be useful.
• Transactional experience: involvement in cross-border M&A, venture capital and/or equity capital markets.
• Advisory experience: depending on experience, some advisory experience with private and/or public companies.

Professional Qualifications

• UK qualified lawyer (NQ - 5PQE) with a strong academic background.

Diversity, equity and inclusion statement

We strive to create an inclusive and rewarding environment that allows our people to thrive both professionally and personally. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at the Firm will be based on merit, qualifications and abilities. The Firm does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, promotion, termination, and access to benefits and training.