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Employee Incentives lawyers

CMS has the largest number of partners dedicated to employee share plans in a City law firm, with over forty years’ combined experience as partners in their field. Our team stands out for the range of work it does. We each advise FTSE100 and multinational companies on their share plans and the related public company M&A work that goes with that, but also advise start-ups, particularly in the tech and life sciences sectors and other companies which are private equity owned. We will work with you to maximise the opportunities to reward employees in the most tax-effective way possible and deliver their rewards cost-effectively for your business.

Each of our partners is anchored in the firm's sectors. When clients approach us, they want common sense advice based on our experience and what is right for their business at their particular stage of development.  As part of the wider CMS network, we are also quickly able to draw upon the overseas expertise of our international offices.

We pride ourselves on giving clear advice. We ensure our clients are aware of the commercial opportunities and pitfalls they may face, as well as (in appropriate cases) the changing tax and corporate governance environment.

Quoted companies

  • IPOs
  • M&A activity
  • All-employee plans
  • Executive remuneration in the public glare
  • Listing Rule compliance

PE owned and other private companies

  • Tax-efficient remuneration, including EMI options
  • How to create opportunities for employees (especially leavers) to sell shares
  • Appropriate structure for the size of company

Financial services

  • Compliance with the various Remuneration Codes put in place by the PRA and FCA

Employee trusts

  • Setting up and operating employee trusts
  • Winding them up

Some highlights of our experience

 
Andrew Quayle
Andrew Quayle
Partner
United Kingdom, London
Andrew is a partner in the Employee Incentives Team, specialising in the design and implementation of employee equity plans.  Although Andrew looks after a broad range of clients (from early-stage companies...
Valentina Santambrogio
Valentina Santambrogio
Partner
United Kingdom, London
Valentina Santambrogio is a partner in the international M&A, private equity and venture capital team. Valentina has a focus on cross-border deals and a particular expertise in the private equity and...
Sarah McMaster
Sarah McMaster
Of Counsel
United Kingdom, London
Sarah is an Of Counsel in our Employees Incentives team.  Sarah specialises in employee share schemes and incentive arrangements, working with a broad range of clients (from early-stage companies through...
Mark Walker
Mark Walker
Of Counsel
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
Mark is Of Counsel in the Employment team. He advises on all aspects of employment law. He “is an outstanding legal practitioner in the field of U.K. labor and employment law. He is diligent, an expert...
Jasleen Kaur
Jasleen Kaur
Senior Associate
United Kingdom, London
Jasleen is a Senior Associate in the Tax team. Jasleen advises on designing and implementing all types of cash and equity based employee incentive arrangements and her clients range from early stage start-ups...
Felicity Bramall
Felicity Bramall
Associate
United Kingdom, London
Felicity is an Associate in the Employment Team. Her work primarily involves advising clients on day-to-day HR queries, disciplinary and grievance investigations / processes, redundancies, Employment...
Amelia Goodair
Amelia Goodair
Associate
United Kingdom, Sheffield
Amelia is an associate in the Employment Team and joined CMS in 2022 after qualifying into Employment in 2021 at a regional firm. She advises employers and senior employees on a wide range of general...
Imogen Rohrs
Imogen Rohrs
Associate
United Kingdom, London
Imogen is an Associate in the Employee Incentives team. Imogen has a range of experience advising clients from FTSE 100 companies to small private companies and start-ups on the design, implementation...