Associate – Executive Compensation & Benefits

Pillsbury’s nationally recognized Executive Compensation & Benefits Practice seeks a highly qualified associate with 2–3 years of experience to join its growing team. This role offers geographic flexibility, with the opportunity to be based in Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Silicon Valley. Please indicate your preferred office location in your cover letter.

The Opportunity

This position provides the opportunity to advise a sophisticated and diverse client base—including public and private companies, emerging growth companies, executives, boards of directors, and compensation committees—on complex executive compensation and benefits matters. Associates in the practice work closely with colleagues across offices and disciplines, including corporate deal teams, and are entrusted with meaningful responsibility early in their careers. Associates benefit from mentorship, hands‑on experience, and the opportunity to develop deep expertise in compensation structuring and strategic advisory.

The ideal candidate will have experience advising on a broad range of executive compensation and employee benefits matters, including:

• Mergers and acquisitions, including Section 280G analysis

• Financings and initial public offerings

• Executive hires, terminations, and exit arrangements

• Equity and incentive compensation plans and award agreements

• Nonqualified deferred compensation (Section 409A)

• ERISA and group benefits compliance

• Public company reporting and disclosure obligations

Responsibilities include:

• Collaborating with attorneys across offices to deliver exceptional client service in a fast‑paced environment

• Communicating clearly and effectively—both orally and in writing—on highly sophisticated and complex matters

• Demonstrating sound judgment, initiative, attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines

• Conducting legal research and analysis on executive compensation and benefits issues

Qualifications

• J.D. or foreign equivalent; LL.M. will be considered in lieu of a J.D.

• Prior or current experience at an Am Law 100 firm

• Excellent academic credentials

• Strong analytical, research, and legal writing skills

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication abilities

• Thorough understanding of professional ethics and conduct standards

• Admission to, and good standing with, the bar in the jurisdiction(s) where the associate will practice

About Pillsbury’s Executive Compensation & Benefits Practice

Pillsbury is home to one of the largest and most accomplished stand‑alone executive compensation and benefits practices in the country. Recognized nationally and internationally, our team advises leading private, public, not‑for‑profit, and governmental clients on their most significant and complex executive compensation and benefits matters, including high‑profile transactions and executive arrangements.

Qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for the position in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act. California pay range for this role, with final offer amount dependent on skillset and experience, is $260,000.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

If you require an accommodation in order to apply for a position, please contact us at [email protected].