Partner Yana Johnson Adds Executive Compensation Experience to Faegre Drinker’s Corporate Practice in San Francisco
Faegre Drinker announced today that Yana Johnson has joined the firm as a partner in the corporate practice in San Francisco. Johnson comes to the firm from Jackson Lewis.
Johnson is a nationwide expert with over 22 years of experience to assist the firm’s public company clients in executive and employee benefits matters. She is pragmatic and business-minded. Johnson has experience working in the technology, biotech, construction, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, private equity, entertainment, hospitality, temporary staffing and government contracting industries.
“We are thrilled for Yana to support the equity and executive compensation needs of the firm’s clients, including the evolving needs of our public company clients,” said co-leaders of the firm’s corporate practice Jim Fischer and Keith Radtke. “Her substantial knowledge of executive compensation issues in a variety of contexts, including executive transitions and mergers and acquisitions, will aid collaboration across our multidisciplinary teams.”
Johnson advises public and private companies, private equity firms, venture capitalists, boards of directors, compensation committees, and high-profile executives and management teams on executive compensation matters, including public disclosures, “say-on-pay,” equity plan disclosure, solicitation and engagement matters, stock exchange listing standards and corporate governance. She also has significant experience in helping clients negotiate executive employment agreements and design equity and phantom equity plans and awards, long-term incentive compensation and deferred compensation plans. Johnson is fluent in relevant corporate governance, securities and tax reporting issues related to executive compensation and benefits.
“Yana’s strong combination of executive compensation and securities disclosure experience bolsters the strength of our growing team in San Francisco,” added Cheryl Orr, leader of Faegre Drinker’s international labor and employment practice and the firm’s San Francisco office. “We look forward to Yana providing clients with practical counsel and customized business strategies to address their unique opportunities and challenges.”
Johnson guides domestic and international as well as public and private buyers and sellers through executive compensation, benefits and HR issues that arise in business transactions, including mergers, asset sales, spin-offs, financings and IPOs. She regularly advises clients on issues related to broad-based compensation arrangements, including 401(k), pension, health, welfare, fringe benefit and early retirement plans. Johnson also advises venture funds, plan sponsors and financial institutions on compliance with Title I of ERISA, including in credit facilities, investments and plan vendor arrangements.
Johnson earned her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of California (UC), Hastings College of the Law, where she was the articles editor for the Hastings Law Journal and served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Thelton E. Henderson, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. She received her bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Cruz.
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