Vedder is an international business-focused law firm serving sophisticated clients of all sizes and industries from offices across the U.S. and in the UK and Asia.

A Business Focused Law Firm With a Global Reach | Vedder

The attorneys of Vedder’s Executive Compensation &amp; Employee Benefits group assist our clients in recruiting and retaining their most important asset—their employees.

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We work with public and private companies and their boards and management teams to create tax-compliant compensation and benefits programs that incentivize their workforce and differentiate them in the marketplace.

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Executive Compensation

Our Executive Compensation practice works with companies, boards, individual executives and management teams to design and implement programs that align leadership incentives with business objectives and shareholder interests. We advise on employment agreements, equity and incentive plans, deferred compensation, severance and change-in-control arrangements, indemnification, restrictive covenants, and related SEC and tax matters.

We work closely with compensation committees to create programs that are practical, strategically aligned and tailored to the company’s goals. At the same time, our experience representing individual executives ensures arrangements attract, motivate and protect top talent.

We also assist private equity firms and management teams with complex compensation structures for LLCs, limited partnerships and other specialized entities, including equity rollovers and incentive alignment.

We combine market insights with a clear understanding of governance obligations and executive priorities to help clients anticipate risks, navigate regulatory requirements and achieve measurable results. Our approach is collaborative, focused on actionable guidance and designed to support effective decision-making across the executive compensation lifecycle.

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Employee Benefits

Retirement and welfare benefits are an important part of total employee compensation and we advise clients in ways that balance employee satisfaction with the realities of the current business climate. We guide clients through every stage of plan design, administration and ongoing compliance, addressing tax, fiduciary, and federal and state benefits regulations, as well as reporting, disclosure and litigation considerations. At the same time, we focus on the practical implications for the organization, from financial management to clear, effective employee communications.

We advise a wide range of organizations, including public and private companies, financial institutions, health care entities and non-profit organizations, on compliance and regulatory issues relating to 401(k) plans, welfare benefit plans, fringe benefits and HIPAA privacy. Our attorneys also bring experience across legacy benefit matters, including pension de-risking, retiree medical coverage and employer participation in multiemployer plans, offering solutions tailored to each client’s business goals and operational realities.

In addition, we counsel investment committees and collaborate with plan fiduciaries, investment managers and advisors on complex ERISA plan asset matters. Our thorough understanding of regulatory requirements and pragmatic approach to client objectives help organizations manage risk, enhance plan effectiveness and achieve outcomes that support both business priorities and participant interests.

ERISA Litigation

Vedder handles high-stakes executive compensation and employee benefits claims and litigation matters with a record of success. Our advice and goal is to help our clients avoid litigation. However, when litigation is necessary, our attorneys are well-equipped to handle complex ERISA and compensation matters. Vedder has won many cases in the ERISA and compensation field, including two Supreme Court cases and dozens of others at various courts.

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Vedder Works Employment Law Series Rosemont, IL 2023

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Christopher T Collins to Speak at PLI Session Drafting and Negotiating Employment Agreements

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Vedder Works Employment Law Series Rosemont, IL 2024

Chris Buch to Speak at the NCEO 2025 Forum

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Vedder Price Recognized in <i>Chambers USA</i> in 2023

Christopher Buch Joins Vedder Price Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits Group in Chicago

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Vedder Price Practice Areas and Attorneys Recognized in The Legal 500 United States in 2025

Vedder Price Recognized in Chambers USA in 2025

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Illinois Enacts New Pay Stub Requirements for Employers

lllinois Employers May Still Face Unpaid Wage Claims

New Jersey Passes Wage Transparency Law

Colorado Requires Holiday Incentive Pay to Be Included in the Regular Rate of Pay

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Seventh Circuit Weighs in on Jurisdiction in FLSA Collective Cases

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EEOC Updates Anti-Harassment Guidance for First Time in 25 Years

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New York City Bans Employers from Creating Height and Weight Requirements

New Law in New York State Impacts Settlement Agreements

UK Supreme Court Ruling:  A Look at the Changes to a Series of Unlawful Deductions

Major Changes Proposed to Non-Competes in the UK

New Law Requires Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area Employers to Provide Pre-Tax Transit Benefits

New York State and City Labor and Employment Updates

California Increases Requirements for Paid Sick Leave

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NLRB Continues to Rewrite the Rules to Limit Employers’ Authority

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EEOC Proposes Regulations for Implementation of Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

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A Welcome Delay in CCPA Regulations Enforcement

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AI “Hallucinations” Can Inflict Real-World Pain

Minnesota Enacts Ban on Non-Competition Agreements

NLRB Refashions Independent Contractor Test

Calculating FMLA Leave:  What Happens on Holidays?

Employers Face Minimum Wage Increases in Certain Cities and Local Areas

Canada’s Wildfires Are a Good Reminder of an Employer’s Duty to Provide a Workplace Free of Known Safety and Health Hazards

Colorado Bill Amends Equal Pay for Equal Work Act

Supreme Court Allows Employer to Sue Union. Is that a big deal?

Amendment to Chicago Human Rights Ordinance Protects Bodily Autonomy of Workers

Chicago Updates Its “Ban the Box” Rule to Limit an Employer’s Consideration of Conviction Records

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New EEOC COVID-19 Updates

New York State Releases Its Finalized Updated Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy

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NLRB Puts Employers On the Hook for Expanded Remedies for Unfair Labor Practices

The EU’s proposed Artificial Intelligence Act

A UK Perspective on Dealing with Alcohol Dependence in the Workplace

NLRB General Counsel Answers Questions on Severance Agreements in New Memorandum

Los Angeles City’s Fair Work Week Ordinance Provides Predictable Scheduling for Certain Retail Employees

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Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Deadline Approaches for Chicago Employers

NLRB Curbs the Scope of Severance Agreements forNon-Supervisory Employees at All Employers

Pregnant or Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Get Some Relief

Non-Negotiable Arbitration Agreements May Be Required as a Condition of Employment

Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits

Insights & Events

Susan Niver to Present on Head of School Contracts and Compensation

Amendment to New Jersey Family Leave Act Expands Coverage for Employees

2026 Wage Updates for New York State

Third Circuit Signals Shift in Requirements for Releaseof FLSA Claims In Class Action Settlements

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Primary Contacts

Related Areas

Insights & Events

Susan Niver to Present on Head of School Contracts and Compensation

Amendment to New Jersey Family Leave Act Expands Coverage for Employees

2026 Wage Updates for New York State

Third Circuit Signals Shift in Requirements for Releaseof FLSA Claims In Class Action Settlements

New Year, New Limits! More Room to Save in 2026: The Numbers Are In

Nevada Supreme Court Holds That State Wage and Hour Laws Do Not Incorporate the Federal Portal-to-Portal Act

Vedder Price Represents HBT Financial, Inc. in its Acquisition of CNB Bank Shares, Inc.

California’s Latest Salvo to Protect Employee Mobility – What Employers Need to Know

Primary Contacts

Related Areas

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