Bio

Austin Lilling focuses his practice on issues relating to executive compensation arrangements and employee benefit plans. Austin regularly provides comprehensive counsel to senior executives, management teams and employers on the design, negotiation, implementation and administration of employment agreements, severance agreements, change in control arrangements, corporate and partnership equity and phantom equity compensation arrangements, qualified and nonqualified deferred compensation plans, welfare plans, retention, incentive and other compensation and benefits arrangements. He has substantial knowledge of ERISA and tax issues relating to benefits and compensation arrangements, including under Internal Revenue Code Sections 409A, 457A, 162(m), 280G and 83, and strives in his practice to maximize tax efficiency for, while avoiding the potential for punitive tax consequences to, his clients. Austin advises on benefits, compensation and employee matters in transactional settings, including in private and public mergers and acquisitions, financial restructurings and investment fund acquisitions and dispositions, and has significant experience representing various parties to such transactions. Throughout his career, Austin has been involved with many of the country’s most significant financial restructurings. Private equity and hedge funds often call on Austin for thoughtful guidance relating to their key employee compensation arrangements and those covering portfolio company management. He is also called on to provide counsel relating to the unique compensation programs of media, entertainment and professional sports organizations.