Department profile
Baker McKenzie

Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation

USA Guide 2026 : California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrou

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Baker McKenzie

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About

Provided by Baker McKenzie

The Baker McKenzie California Compensation team is one of a few firms to provide "one-stop" US domestic and international executive compensation, employee benefits and equity compensation advice, ensuring clients’ plans are designed to be offered on a global basis, with appropriate modifications due to local law requirements.

Baker McKenzie's Compensation team has a large client base (over 1,000 public/private companies), and routinely advises its clients on the employee benefits, executive compensation and equity compensation aspects of major cross-border business change and re-organization/restructuring projects, such as mergers & acquisitions, spin-offs, reductions in force and post-acquisition integration.

In addition, we provide advice to multinational companies on all aspects of pension law, including benefits and pension plan risk-mitigation strategies and de-risking alternatives. Matters range from workforce and transaction planning, to regulatory compliance and addressing significant financial and regulatory risk associated with particular types of pension arrangements (such as defined-benefit arrangements), including techniques to mitigate fiduciary risk and to avoid prohibited transactions with plan assets.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation - California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrou

Band 1

What the Team is Known For
Baker McKenzie comprises unchallenged experts in global equity services, providing some of the largest companies with services worldwide at the highest level. The team handles the full spectrum of employee benefits, executive compensation and ERISA matters, domestically and internationally. The group ranks highly for the scale and sophistication of equity granting and other compensation work handled regionally for both a Californian and a global clientele. The practitioners also have significant expertise in global tax and compliance issues.
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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Baker McKenzie advised both HPE and Juniper Networks on employment and compensation integration issues across 58 countries related to the $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Baker McKenzie are knowledgeable, diligent and professional. They have a good grasp on the business trends of big corporations.

    Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation respondentUSA

  • What distinguishes Baker McKenzie is their responsiveness to taking on new projects, proper setting of expectations regarding work completion and overall availability during the project.

    Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation respondentUSA

  • Due to their extensive global network, Baker McKenzie can coordinate advice across multiple jurisdictions worldwide.

    Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Barbara Klementz
    Barbara Klementz

    Barbara Klementz

    Barbara Klementz is well-versed in handling equity plans and compensation issues for multinational clients.

    • Barbara is tremendously helpful to keep complex topics under control. Her honest opinion is always valuable.

      Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation respondentUSA
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  • Sinead M Kelly
    Sinead M Kelly

    Sinead M Kelly

    Sinead Kelly handles an array of transactional employee benefits and executive compensation matters, including those arising out of corporate spin-offs and IPOs.

    • Sinead is an incredibly thoughtful adviser. We value her advice greatly, both on routine matters and ad hoc situations.

      Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation respondentUSA

    • She is extremely sharp, pragmatic, thoughtful, and responsive. She understands our business and offers practical solutions that we can implement and administer.

      Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation respondentUSA
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  • Denise M Glagau
    Denise M Glagau

    Denise M Glagau

    Denise Glagau frequently acts on the employee benefits and executive compensation aspects of mergers, acquisitions and sales. She regularly represents clients in the technology sector on cross-border transactions.
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  • Jennifer Kirk
    Jennifer Kirk

    Jennifer Kirk

    Jennifer Kirk advises public and private companies on EBEC matters, including complex tax and regulatory compliance. With a focus on global equity services, she has a proven record of supporting clients across the globe.

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  • Matthew Schonholz
    Matthew Schonholz

    Matthew Schonholz

    Matthew Schonholz of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP provides expert advice on a variety of executive compensation and tax matters relating to corporate transactions.

    • Matt is responsive and client-focused.

      Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation respondentUSA
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  • Nick Macaluso
    Nick Macaluso

    Nick Macaluso

    Nick Macaluso is recognised for advising clients on the tax implication of employee equity plans in connection with corporate transactions. He has significant experience assisting with extensive cross-border needs.

    • Nick is detail-oriented. We don't need to be experts in every country and can rely on him to be so.

      Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation respondentUSA
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Ranked Individuals at Baker McKenzie (6)

California: Los Angeles & Surrounds

California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrou

Members

Provided by Baker McKenzie

Baker McKenzie has rankings in the following guides

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