International: Global Equity Matrix | July 2021 Edition

Barbara Klementz is the chair of Baker McKenzie’s North American Compensation Practice. She has practiced in the area of global equity and executive compensation for over 20 years. Barbara has authored several articles on global equity issues for the BNA Executive Compensation Journal, Journal of Corporate Taxation and San Francisco and Los Angeles Daily Journal, among others, and she is the author of a blog on global equity related topics called the Global Equity Equation. She is also a frequent speaker on a variety of global equity topics. Barbara is recognized as a ranked practitioner by Chambers USA. Chambers states that she "consistently delivers top-notch assistance and work product, and is a true expert in the field." Barbara is admitted to private practice in California and Düsseldorf, Germany.

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Narendra Acharya focuses his practice on matters relating to US and international employee benefits and executive compensation — including global stock plans and pensions, as well as matters pertaining to pensions, executive compensation and employment issues in mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Acharya has particular expertise dealing with cross-border compensation issues, including issues raised in corporate reorganizations and inversion transactions. Mr. Acharya has been selected as a BTI Client Service All Star, which recognizes "innovative attorneys who are leveraging market changes to stand out with corporate counsel and deliver superior client service."

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Denise Glagau is a partner in the Firm's North America Employment and Compensation practice where she advises multinational companies on the tax and legal issues related to offering employee share plans and other incentive compensation programs in their home countries and on a global basis. Denise has authored several articles and frequently speaks on topics of interest for legal and other professionals dealing with share plan issues. She serves as the Secretary of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals (NASPP) San Francisco Chapter and she is on the Advisory Board of the Certified Equity Professionals Institute (CEPI) of Santa Clara University. She is a recognized practitioner by Chambers USA 2019 in the area of Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation. She is also a member of the Firm's Financial Institutions and Healthcare & Lifesciences industry groups.

Sinead Kelly is a partner in the Firm's Compensation practice. She advises on US executive compensation and global equity and has practiced in the compensation field since 2005. She regularly speaks and publishes on compensation-related topics and is a contributing author to Lexis Practice Advisor and Wolters Kluwer’s “Practical Guide to SEC Proxy and Compensation Rules,” as well as a founder of the Firm's Compensation Connection blog. She is on the Advisory Board of the Certified Equity Professionals Institute (CEPI) of Santa Clara University and is a member of the Firm's Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain working groups. Sinead has been recognized by Chambers USA for Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, most recently in 2024, where Chambers states that she is “extremely intelligent, responsive and solution-oriented.” She is a Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer for 2024, and is ranked by Legal 500 as a "Leading Lawyer" for Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and Retirement Plan Design.

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Jennifer Kirk is a partner in Baker McKenzie’s Employment & Compensation Practice, with a focus on global equity services. Jennifer is currently Secretary and Board member of the Global Equity Organization, as well as a member of the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals. She is a frequent speaker on global equity plan issues.Prior to re-joining the Firm, Jennifer was Director of Global Equity Management at Alphabet, Inc./Google Inc. for almost 8 years. She previously had been a partner in Baker McKenzie's Global Equity Services group.

Lindsay Minnis is a partner in Baker McKenzie's Global Equity Services Practice in New York. She routinely advises multinationals on international equity plans, executive compensation and employment benefits.

Kela Shang is a partner in the Firm’s Palo Alto office and a member of the Global Equity Services Practice Group. He regularly assists public and private companies in offering their employee equity plans around the world. Mr. Shang is currently a member of the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals and the Global Equity Organization.

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Aimee Soodan has experience in all areas of compensation and benefits with a concentration in US and international equity and executive compensation and provides holistic advice and counseling on all compensation and incentive arrangements, both for employees in and outside the United States. She is exceptionally well-versed with respect to the tax, legal and administrative aspects of global equity programs. Ms. Soodan is Director of the Global Equity Organization's US Midwest Chapter, serves on the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals’ Executive Advisory Committee and is an adjunct professor at the Center for Tax Law & Employee Benefits at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Aimee is a recognized practitioner by Chambers US 2024 with clients noting, "We value Aimee's insight and awareness on what we are trying to accomplish through our programs. She is very responsive."

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Brian K. Wydajewski practices in the area of compensation and employment. He also heads the Chicago Office’s Global Equity Services Practice which assists multinational corporations with the design, implementation and operation of global equity compensation plans. Mr. Wydajewski has authored numerous articles, and is a frequent speaker on employee benefits, executive compensation and global equity compensation issues. In addition, Mr. Wydajewski is past chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Employee Benefits Section Council, and is an adjunct professor at the Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits at the John Marshall Law School.