Compensation & Benefits Associate

Our client is a leading global law firm seeking a full-time associate (NQ–5 PQE) to join its London Compensation & Benefits practice. The role focuses on equity incentives and benefits work across the full company lifecycle.

The practice spans transactional matters, emerging companies and venture capital, listed company advisory, cross-border arrangements, and employment support. Clients range from pre-revenue start-ups to listed public companies with global workforces.

Responsibilities will include, depending on experience:

• Drafting and negotiating equity plan rules, award agreements, and ancillary documents for private and public companies.
• Advising on EMI, CSOP, unapproved options, growth shares, and other equity instruments.
• Supporting compensation and equity diligence on venture financings and M&A transactions.
• Handling equity treatment on funding rounds, change of control, restructurings, and exits.
• Supporting IPO and secondary offering workstreams.
• Coordinating with US colleagues, local counsel, tax advisers, and corporate deal teams on cross-border matters.

The ideal candidate is a UK-qualified lawyer with experience in a top-tier UK, US, or international firm, with a solid understanding of UK tax-advantaged and unapproved option schemes, growth shares, and/or equity incentive plans. Transactional experience in cross-border M&A, venture capital, or equity capital markets is expected, and some advisory experience with private or public companies is beneficial.

• UK-qualified lawyer (NQ–5 PQE) with a strong academic background.
• Experience working in compensation and benefits (or equivalent) in a top-tier UK, US, or international firm in London.
• Solid understanding of UK tax-advantaged and unapproved option schemes, growth shares, and/or equity incentive plans (depending on experience).
• Transactional experience in cross-border M&A, venture capital, and/or equity capital markets.
• Some understanding of US and other jurisdictional arrangements is useful.
• Advisory experience with private and/or public companies (depending on experience).