Legal Full-Time

Executive Compensation Attorney (Rochester, Buffalo, Albany - all New York)

Harter Secrest and Emery LLP • Rochester, NY

Company

Harter Secrest and Emery LLP

Annual salary

$120k – $170k/yr

Location

Rochester, NY

Listed

156d ago

Experience:: 1 to 7 years
Workplace:: HSE operates on a hybrid model with an expectation of approximately 50% in-office over the course of the year. This is measured on trust, no badge swipes or policing. The primary office for this role is Rochester, NY, with Buffalo, NY as a secondary option. Remote candidates may be considered for an exceptional hire, but note that HSE's compensation reflects upstate New York cost of living and has historically been a sticking point for remote candidates from higher-cost markets. HSE does not staff its New York City office for daily work, do not apply if a NYC seat is your goal.
Visa:: Visa sponsorship not available
Equity:: No equity at the associate/counsel level. HSE operates a single-tier equity partnership, when attorneys are voted into the partnership (typically after a 9, 11 year track), they become full equity partners from day one. There is no non-equity partner tier. Partnership compensation is lockstep and seniority-based, with a cap at a set number of points after which all partners earn the same amount.

Hybrid in Rochester, NY. Visa sponsorship not available.

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What you'll do

Draft and negotiate executive employment agreements, severance agreements, and change-in-control protections for public and private company clients
Design and document equity compensation plans, stock options, RSUs, performance shares, profits interests, across both private and public company contexts
Advise on executive compensation issues in M&A transactions, including §280G golden parachute analysis, equity treatment at closing, severance triggers, and transaction bonuses
Handle compliance work under IRC §§83, 280G, 409A, 457(f), and 457A, including nonqualified deferred compensation plan design and administration
Support proxy compensation disclosure for public company clients, CD&A drafting, Summary Compensation Tables, peer benchmarking inputs
Work closely with HSE's active corporate/M&A team on deal-related compensation matters that flow consistently into the EBEC group
Advise compensation committees on director compensation arrangements, clawback policies, performance-based compensation, and fringe benefit structures
Step into client-facing work as your experience and seasoning allow, with real hands-on responsibility early in your tenure

What you need

We're seeking a mid-level executive compensation attorney with 1, 7 years of substantive experience in executive compensation, employee benefits, or tax with a comp/benefits focus. You should be comfortable working in a lean, collaborative group handling sophisticated public and private company matters, equity plans, 409A, 280G, M&A executive comp, and proxy disclosure, and have a track record of delivering technically precise, client-ready work. Bonus points if you hold an LL.M. In Taxation and have direct experience with IRC §§83, 280G, 409A, 457(f), and 457A.

About the firm:

Harter Secrest & Emery LLP is a mid-sized full-service firm headquartered in Rochester, NY, with its second-largest office in Buffalo, NY. Around 300 people firmwide, 54 partners. HSE operates on a true lockstep-with-accountability model, no eat-what-you-kill, no internal competition for origination credit. Partners are paid by seniority, incentivized to push work down and cross-sell, and root for each other. The EBEC group is Tier 1, ranked in ERISA law and handles sophisticated work for clients ranging from local businesses to Fortune 100 companies and large public company comp committees. Billable target is 1,800 hours. In-office expectation is 50% over the year, not policed, real flexibility for life.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for the Executive Compensation Attorney (Rochester, Buffalo, Albany - all New York) role at Harter Secrest and Emery LLP? +

Use the Apply for a referral button on this page to send us your LinkedIn and CV. If your experience fits, we'll introduce you to the recruiter filling this role. They'll email you to check you're interested, then put you forward for this job or others that suit you better. It's free.

What does this Harter Secrest and Emery LLP role pay? +

The listing gives $120k – $170k/yr.

Is this role remote? +

The listing gives the location as Rochester, NY. HSE operates on a hybrid model with an expectation of approximately 50% in-office over the course of the year. This is measured on trust, no badge swipes or policing. The primary office for this role is Rochester, NY, with Buffalo, NY as a secondary option. Remote candidates may be considered for an exceptional hire, but note that HSE's compensation reflects upstate New York cost of living and has historically been a sticking point for remote candidates from higher-cost markets. HSE does not staff its New York City office for daily work, do not apply if a NYC seat is your goal. Visa sponsorship not available.