Debevoise & Plimpton LLP announced today that Alison Buckley-Serfass has rejoined the firm’s Washington, DC office as counsel in the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group. In this role, Ms. Buckley-Serfass will advise clients on compensation-related securities law matters, including SEC reporting, disclosure requirements, corporate governance issues, and on the benefits and tax issues that arise in mergers and acquisitions.
Ms. Buckley-Serfass brings to the firm extensive experience on the design and negotiation of equity and cash-based compensation arrangements, employment, severance, change in control, deferred compensation and other compensation-related agreements and arrangements. In addition to advising on these issues, in her new role, Ms. Buckley-Serfass will focus on the training and growth of lawyers, knowledge and matter management and business development.
“We have seen a significant and sustained increase in client demand across our group this year, especially involving highly complex compensation arrangements related to SEC reporting, M&A transactions and corporate governance issues,” said Jonathan Lewis, Chair of the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group. “Alison’s proven ability to negotiate and resolve these types of compensation agreements will strengthen our ability to meet the growing needs of our clients, including through the training, development and deployment of our lawyers. We welcome her back to the firm.”
Ms. Buckley-Serfass’s return to the firm is at a time of growth for the practice group. Last month, Kathleen Emberger joined the group as counsel to advise on executive compensation issues that arise in M&A transactions, disclosure requirements and corporate governance matters.
Ms. Buckley-Serfass rejoins Debevoise from another international law firm. She received her J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in 2008, and received her B.S. from Seton Hall University in 2003.
Debevoise’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group practices at the intersection of corporate governance, securities laws, tax, ERISA and an intricate matrix of labor and employment regimes, and it does so while grappling with some of the most sensitive and important issues in major corporate transactions. The Group’s experience is extremely broad, ranging from addressing the human resources and liability issues that arise in M&A transactions, to advising on critical aspects of corporate governance, to designing, negotiating and implementing employment contracts and short- and long-term compensation plans and programs, to navigating and developing creative solutions for the challenging ERISA issues that permeate Debevoise’s investment funds practice.
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a premier law firm with market-leading practices, a global perspective and strong New York roots. We deliver effective solutions to our clients’ most important legal challenges, applying clear commercial judgment and a distinctively collaborative approach.