Employee Share Schemes & Incentives | UK

Clifford Chance LLP has a dedicated team of incentives and remuneration specialists with a strong client following in the financial services industry, as well as a significant footprint in the insurance, energy and technology sectors. The team undertakes general advisory work, as well as assisting clients with transactional matters, and is highly experienced in dealing with cross-border work.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advises on complex incentive scheme implementations. The team works on substantial corporate transactions and represents clients in share plan litigation. Freshfields is at the forefront of regulatory developments in the sector, assisting clients with the interpretation of new governance on executive pay arrangements and share dealings. The firm has further expertise in acting for listed companies.

Herbert Smith Freehills acts across a range of issues, including share schemes and incentives, financial services remuneration and corporate advisory governance. The firm continues to represent organisations from the financial services industry, as well as working with a number of technology and transportation clients. The Herbert Smith Freehills team advises on incentive plan aspects of transactions. The firm utilises the firm's global network to assist UK clients with international extensions of incentive arrangements, advising on local tax, exchange control and securities regulations.

Linklaters works with numerous FTSE 100 companies and leading global banks. The firm has sector expertise that covers energy, media, insurance and real estate, among other areas. The firm also advises on a full range of employee share schemes and incentives matters. Linklaters provides ongoing advice and also assists clients in the context of transactions, with experience in matters relating to flotations. The team is supported by a global network of offices.

Tapestry Compliance provides specialist executive compensation and share plan advice delivered by an expert team. The firm is noted for its experience handling global executive and employee share plans and incentives, and for working with global banks in relation to regulatory issues. Tapestry Compliance is adept at handling tax advantage plans. The firm's client base includes those in the insurance, retail and healthcare sectors, among others. Tapestry Compliance also advises on corporate governance issues.

Baker McKenzie handles multi-jurisdictional matters for domestic and international companies. The firm is noted for work with global share plans and share scheme matters. The expertise of the team includes advising businesses on share schemes and incentives following senior executive and partnership restructuring. The group's sector expertise covers financial services, healthcare and media.

Macfarlanes advises a wide-ranging client base on share schemes and incentives. The clients include listed and unlisted companies. The Macfarlanes team is adept at advisory work on behalf of those in the financial services sector. The firm is experienced in handling issues relating to corporate transactions.

Slaughter and May advises on the share scheme aspects of major transactions. The team has a strong corporate client base, including blue-chip and multinational companies. The areas of expertise of the Slaughter and May team include advising on executive remuneration and boardroom pay issues. The firm is experienced in advising on malus and clawback provisions concerning cash and share inventive arrangements.

Travers Smith assists with all stages of incentive programmes from creation to implementation. The firm offers a full range of support on transactions and advises on domestic and international matters for a wide client base, including publicly traded and privately owned companies. The firm also advises clients on corporate governance matters.

DLA Piper houses an established team of incentives experts with expertise spanning a wide array of industry sectors. The group frequently advises on the structuring and implementation of complex share plans, as well as related tax implications.

Mishcon de Reya advises on a broad range of incentives and share scheme matters at all stages, from implementation to operation and winding-ups. The firm's clients includes multinational financial sector clients and FTSE-listed companies.

Pinsent Masons houses an impressive share schemes and incentives practice with a strong client base of FTSE 100 companies as well as financial services clients. The firm offers advice to companies on the implementation of tax qualifying and non-tax qualifying global schemes as well as providing support with large M&A transactions and IPOs. Pinsent Masons also assists with the financial arrangements relating to senior hires and exits.

Stephenson Harwood handles all aspects of remuneration work, including share plan design and implementation. The firm works with a client base that includes AIM-listed companies and also advises on cross-border matters.

On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman. The firm offers strong financial services expertise, particularly in employee incentive arrangements and remuneration issues. Itacts on M&A transactions and IPOs, often advising major global corporations. The team provides multinational support on a full range of issues, supported by complementary teams such as tax, securities and employment.

Addleshaw Goddard is noted for its wide knowledge of employee incentives. The firm is sought after for its expertise in executive and senior manager remuneration policies. Addleshaw Goddard instructs FTSE 100 companies, with clients hailing from a range of sectors including retail and leisure companies. The team boasts an impressive portfolio of financial services clients.

Cooley acts on behalf of a strong client base of companies in the tech and biotech markets. The firm provides expert share schemes advice in connection with venture capital investments, public offerings and M&A transactions. Cooley offers notable strengths in tax-advantageous offerings and assists with with full range of remuneration packages.

Fieldfisher is noted for expertise in UK and international work in the share scheme and incentives arena. The firm advises corporate clients and companies in the real estate, retail and education sectors. Areas of focus include reward and incentive structures. Fieldfisher has strong capabilities across all employee ownership matters.

Hogan Lovells advises multinational companies on domestic and global share plans. The firm is noted for both the transactional and advisory aspects of the practice. The employee share incentives offering of Hogan Lovells covers tax, corporate, financial services and trust law.

Norton Rose Fulbright advises clients from sectors including technology, life sciences and financial services on a full range of employee share scheme and incentive matters. The firm has specific expertise in advising London-listed companies. The Norton Rose Fulbright team has robust international capabilities, advising clients on incentive and share scheme arrangements across Asia, the USA and Europe.

Osborne Clarke offers expert incentive and share scheme advice. The firm supports on the full range of corporate transactions and also assists companies with their IPOs. The Osborne Clarke team offers notable cross-border capabilities.

Taylor Wessing is well regarded for its broad knowledge of share schemes and incentives, with a particular strength in EMIs. The firm assists companies with a range of share options relating to IPOs and frequently supports companies with their M&A transactions. Taylor Wessing has an impressive international practice, with particular strength in matters relating to the US market.