Morrison & Foerster Strengthens Executive Compensation Capabilities with Addition of Two New Partners

NEW YORK (January 15, 2019) – Morrison & Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce that Ann Becchina and Ron Aizen have joined the firm’s New York office as partners in the Executive Compensation + ERISA Group. Ms. Becchina and Mr. Aizen further expand Morrison & Foerster’s executive compensation offerings and bring extensive experience in this area to its Private Funds Group, Mergers + Acquisitions Group, and Business Restructuring + Insolvency Group. They both come to Morrison & Foerster from Davis Polk.

“Executive compensation is a critical component to a company’s business model. We are therefore delighted to have the opportunity to strengthen our group with two of the finest legal practitioners in the space,” said Anthony J. Carbone, co-chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Tax Department. “Ann and Ron, with diverse skill sets, bring a thorough understanding of the intricate issues unique to compensatory and benefit arrangements. Their counsel will be invaluable to many of our clients involved in fund formations, M&A deals, and restructuring.”

Brett Miller, managing partner of Morrison & Foerster’s New York office and a partner in its Business Restructuring + Insolvency Group, added: “Ann and Ron are the latest talented partners to join our team in New York and are an important addition to both our office and the firm. I look forward to working with them on critical matters for our clients.”

With more than 20 years of experience, Ms. Becchina provides sophisticated guidance to clients with complex compensation needs. Focusing her practice on federal tax and securities law aspects of executive compensation arrangements, Ms. Becchina regularly advises issuers, financial institutions, private funds and investment managers on a range of SEC-related issues, including reporting of beneficial ownership under Sections 13 and 16 under the Securities and Exchange Act. She also advises on the fiduciary and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA in connection with investment products and services. She has particularly deep experience structuring and providing advice regarding complex compensatory structured products, carry and notional plans, and other equity-related programs for investment professional participation. Additionally, Ms. Becchina advises global, multinational clients on their cross-border executive compensation arrangements.

“What attracted me most to Morrison & Foerster is its prominent global client base, particularly in the tech industry, and its reputation for outstanding and creative client service,” said Ms. Becchina. “MoFo represents some of the most innovative companies in the world, and I look forward to having the opportunity to advise them on their compensation needs.”

With approximately 15 years of experience, Mr. Aizen regularly advises clients involved in mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings and bankruptcies, and equity capital markets matters, such as initial public offerings. He often counsels clients on compensatory and benefit arrangements in connection with a particular corporate transaction, handling the negotiating and drafting of relevant plans and agreements. Mr. Aizen also advises on tax and securities law considerations relating to compensatory arrangements, and helps public companies navigate compensation-related disclosure and corporate governance issues.

“I am delighted to join a growing practice at a firm of Morrison & Foerster’s global stature,” said Mr. Aizen. “The current strategic expansion of the firm’s tax offerings, which includes executive compensation, makes this a particularly exciting time to come to MoFo. I am also very impressed with the firm’s energizing culture.”

Ms. Becchina received her J.D. from Columbia Law School, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone scholar and served as senior editor of the Columbia Law Review. Mr. Aizen received his J.D. from Duke University School of Law, where he graduated with high honors and served as notes editor of the Duke Law Journal.

Ms. Becchina and Mr. Aizen join a growing list of partners who have recently joined Morrison & Foerster in New York. Within the last year, the firm has also added capital markets partner John Owen, federal tax partners Jay Blaivas and Anthony Carbone, and securities litigation partner Michael Birnbaum.