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Deferred Compensation

We Counsel Executives on Deferred Compensation Agreements

Protecting special remuneration for corporate employees

Many corporations provide their officers and executives with special compensation packages in addition to their normal salaries. These include stock options, restricted stock units and convertible bonds, all of which are governed by agreements. Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. understands these sometimes intricate arrangements and we regularly assist in negotiating and/or reviewing compensation agreements to make sure our clients’ interests are protected. We also represent employees in dispute resolution or litigation when employers fall short of fulfilling their obligations.

Stock options give employees a stake in their company’s future profits

An employee stock option (ESO) grants an employee the right to buy a certain amount of the corporation’s shares at a predetermined price during a specific period in the future. The employee has the right to obtain the shares, either as a gift or by purchasing them, once he or she has worked at the company for a certain period of time or has satisfied a performance requirement. When that happens, the ESO becomes vested, allowing the employee to exercise the option at the grant price at any time until the option’s expiration date. The idea behind ESOs is to align employees’ incentives with those of the shareholders.

Restrictive stock units offer alternative form of deferred compensation

Restricted stock units (RSUs) became popular in the wake of accounting scandals involving companies like Enron and WorldCom that erupted in the mid-2000s. An RSU involves a promise by an employer to grant restricted stock at a specified time in the future, once the employee works at the firm for a certain number of years or meets a performance requirement. Upon vesting, the RSUs are assigned a fair market value and are treated as taxable income. If the value of the stock has risen, the employee must report the increased value as a capital gain. RSUs have the twin advantages of delaying the recognition of taxable income to the employee while maintaining the advantageous accounting treatment for the corporation. Unlike stock options, which must be recognized as expenses to the company immediately when issued, RSUs stay on the company’s books until they vest.

Deferred equity gives employees cash flow and expectation of stock

Another method of future compensation is deferred equity. This usually takes the form of a convertible bond issued to an employee that that can be exchanged for shares of common stock when the bond reaches maturity or when the stock value reaches a certain level. A convertible bond states a ratio that determines how many shares the holder will receive based on the bond’s face value. The bond usually includes a call provision allowing the company to repurchase the bond upon specified triggering events. Over the lifetime of the bond, the holder receives interest payments based on the bond’s face value. Upon redemption, the bond holder has the choice of receiving common stock or selling the shares for cash.

Contact an accomplished New Jersey employment lawyer to protect your rights

When you join a corporate team that offers any of type of deferred compensation, it’s important to have a legal adviser who can analyze the prospective economic advantages and detriments. Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. represents New Jersey workers in negotiating and reviewing deferred compensation plans and in enforcing employer compliance through dispute resolution and litigation. Please call 551-245-8894 or contact us online to schedule a confidential phone call or in-house conference at our office in Hackensack, New Jersey with one of our attorneys.

Neil  H.  Deutsch Attorney Photo
Neil H. Deutsch
Retired

Neil H. Deutsch has been practicing law for over 35 years and is known as a skilled negotiator in employment and discrimination law. He believes in a bottom-line approach of risk analysis and cost effectiveness for his clients. "Case evaluation is something we take seriously," says Mr. Deutsch who seeks top net dollar for his…

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Bruce L. Atkins
Senior Partner

Bruce L. Atkins is the Senior Managing Partner at Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt P.C., a prominent plaintiff employment law firm in the tri-state area. Mr. Atkins believes employees’ rights should be aggressively pursued when they’ve been wrongfully dealt with by their employers. He brings this philosophy to his practice when considering each case and its…

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Adam J. Kleinfeldt
Partner

Adam J. Kleinfeldt joined Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. in March of 2015.  He primarily represents individuals in employment litigation such as discrimination, retaliation and whistle blowing matters. He has extensive experience in all phases of the litigation process. Adam has obtained significant results for his clients, including a $525,000 jury verdict in a sexual…

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Debra M. McGarvey
Partner

Debra M. McGarvey joined Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. in December 2019. She has extensive experience defending employees and employers in state and federal court in employment litigation matters. She has represented clients on various issues arising out of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD), the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), the…

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Carly Skarbnik Meredith
Partner

Carly Skarbnik Meredith, Esq. is a Partner at the firm. Carly has focused her career exclusively in the field of employment law. She has a plethora of experience representing both employees and employers with their employment issues, needs, and concerns. She believes representing both employees and employers has made her an extremely well-rounded client advocate.…

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