Employee Share Schemes & Incentives | UK

Clifford Chance 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 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. It represents 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 department 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. The firm also advises on corporate governance issues.

Baker McKenzie handles multi-jurisdictional matters for domestic and international companies. The firm is noted for its work on 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.

CMS is noted for its general advisory incentive and employee share scheme work for a range of companies, including large corporations and SMEs. The firm also works on matters related to corporate transactions such as takeovers and spin-offs. Clients include startups and trustees. The firm has particular strength working with clients from the technology, media and telecommunications sectors.

Macfarlanes advises a wide-ranging client base on share schemes and incentives. Its 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. It 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. Travers Smith 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 include multinational financial sector businesses and FTSE-listed companies.

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

Pinsent Masons houses an impressive share schemes and incentives practice that advises a strong client base of FTSE 100 companies as well as financial services clients. It 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. It boasts a client base that includes AIM-listed companies. It is able to advise on cross-border matters.

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.

A&O Shearman boasts strong financial services expertise, particularly in employee incentive arrangements and remuneration issues. It acts on M&A transactions and IPOs, usually advising major global corporations. The team provides multinational support on a full range of issues and is supported by complementary teams such as tax, securities and employment.

Addleshaw Goddard is noted for its broad expertise in 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. It 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 a full range of remuneration packages.

Dechert is particularly noted for its expertise in employee equity and cash-based incentives. The team has experience managing incentives aspects of transactions as well as particular expertise with Long Term Incentive Plans, including those with cross-border elements.

Fieldfisher is noted for its expertise in both the UK and international share schemes and incentives arenas. It 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.

Latham & Watkins is noted for its work on a range of share-based incentive plans with particular expertise in advising firms after a transaction. Its client base includes financial services organisations as well as fintech firms. They also have the capacity to handle cross-border work.

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. It 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.