Compensation & Benefits Private Equity Associate

Cooley LLP; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 329,000 - 402,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Health savings account

Dental

Vision

Flexible spending accounts

Pre-tax commuter benefits

Life insurance

AD&D

Long-term disability

Parental leave benefits

Job summary

Cooley LLP seeks an Associate in the Compensation and Benefits practice to advise private equity sponsors on executive compensation and employee benefits in acquisitions, divestitures, and related mergers.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of experience, handling day‑to‑day portfolio company matters—profits interests and LLC incentives, holdco vehicles, rollover equity, employment and severance arrangements—with IRC sections 280G and 409A expertise.

Qualifications

• 5+ years advising on executive compensation and employee benefits.
• Experience representing private equity sponsors in acquisitions and divestitures.
• Handling day-to-day portfolio company matters: profits interests, LLC incentives, rollover equity, holdco vehicles, and severance arrangements.
• Experience with IRC Sections 280G and 409A.
• Excellent academic credentials and writing, oral communication and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Advise private equity sponsors on executive compensation and employee benefits in acquisitions, divestitures, and mergers.
• Manage day-to-day portfolio company matters including profits interests and LLC incentive awards.
• Oversee management holdco vehicles, rollover equity, and employment/ severance arrangements.
• Apply expertise in IRC sections 280G and 409A to client matters.

Skills

Executive compensation

Employee benefits

Private equity

Mergers & acquisitions

Analytical skills

Job description

Overview

• The role emphasizes advising private equity sponsors on executive compensation and employee benefits matters in acquisitions and divestitures, as well as on mergers and acquisitions involving other privately held companies.
• Key responsibilities include handling day-to-day portfolio company matters, specifically involving grants of profits interests and other LLC incentive awards, management holdco vehicles, rollover equity, and employment and severance arrangements.
• Required experience includes expertise in IRC Sections 280G and 409A.

Posting details

The Compensation and Benefits practice group is seeking an Associate to join the team. Our ideal candidate will have 5+ years of experience advising on executive compensation and employee benefits matters with a particular emphasis on representing private equity sponsors in acquisitions and divestitures and handling day-to-day portfolio company matters, including grants of profits interests and other LLC incentive awards, management holdco vehicles, rollover equity, and employment and severance arrangements. Experience with mergers and acquisitions involving other privately held companies, and IRC Sections 280G and 409A is also required. Qualified candidates will have excellent academic credentials and superior writing, oral communication and analytical skills. EOE. The expected annual pay range for this position is $365,000+. Please note that final offer amount will be dependent on geographic location, applicable experience and skillset of the candidate.

We offer a full range of elective benefits including medical, health savings account (with applicable medical plan), dental, vision, health and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts, pre-tax commuter benefits, life insurance, AD&D, long-term care coverage, backup care for children and/or adults and other parental support benefits.

• We offer a full range of elective benefits including medical, health savings account (with applicable medical plan), dental, vision, health and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts, pre-tax commuter benefits, life insurance, AD&D, long-term care coverage, backup care for children and/or adults and other parental support benefits.

Benefited employees receive firm-paid life insurance, AD&D, LTD, short term medical benefits as well as accruing vacation time at the rate of four weeks per year and sick time at the rate of two weeks per year and 10 paid holidays each year.

• Benefited employees receive firm-paid life insurance, AD&D, LTD, short term medical benefits as well as accruing vacation time at the rate of four weeks per year and sick time at the rate of two weeks per year and 10 paid holidays each year.

We provide generous parental leave and fertility benefits.

• We provide generous parental leave and fertility benefits.

New employees will attend a detailed benefit orientation to learn more about our many benefits and resources.