Laura Westfall is a partner in the New York office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. She represents clients in the executive compensation and employee benefits aspects of mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, capital markets transactions, restructurings and other types of corporate transactions.
Laura advises clients on the design and operation of equity and equity-based compensation plans and arrangements, including all forms of stock compensation (such as stock option, restricted stock, stock appreciation and phantom stock plans), partnership capital and profits interests plans, nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements, and short- and long-term incentive plans, as well as the implications of Sections 280G and 409A of the Internal Revenue Code on such plans and arrangements. She also regularly represents boards, companies and executives in the negotiation of employment, retention, transition and severance agreements.
As a mountaineering and outdoors enthusiast, Laura has summited two of the famed “Seven Summits,” Kilimanjaro (19,341’) and Aconcagua (22,838’), and has also participated in expeditions on Rainier (14,410’) and Elbrus (18,510’).
