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Jeff Laska

Partner & Chair, Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits
Jeff Laska's headshot
Jeff Laska Partner & Chair, Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits

Jeff is Chair of Morrison Cohen’s Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits Department, where he advises clients on executive compensation and general employment matters.

Jeff represents a broad array of clients in connection with their executive compensation and employment matters, including designing, reviewing, negotiating, drafting and implementing employment agreements, separation agreements, settlement agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, equity compensation programs, incentive and deferred compensation arrangements, and other employment-related documents.  In connection with such representation, Jeff provides commercial and practical advice, and addresses the income and excise tax consequences, securities laws implications, litigation risks, and general corporate and governance aspects of such arrangements.

Jeff’s clients include public and private companies of all sizes (including family offices, private equity firms, hedge funds, portfolio companies, consulting firms, medical offices, real estate companies, technology firms, fashion houses, and public relations and marketing firms), in all phases of their operations and in connection with a variety of commercial transactions.

Jeff’s clients also include CEOs, COOs, CFOs and other senior executives of public and private companies; investment bankers, portfolio managers, private equity professionals, traders, analysts, and other employees of financial service firms; doctors, lawyers, accountants, and pharmaceutical/biotech industry professionals; partners, members, shareholders and other business owners; and employees of companies in general.

Jeff has almost 25 years of experience as an adviser to companies and executives, and clients therefore benefit from his deep knowledge of market practice and his understanding of the sensitive, complex, and personal nature of employment relationships.

Jeff joined Morrison Cohen as a partner in 2007. He started his career in 1997 as an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Before joining Morrison Cohen, Jeff spent 5 years as in-house counsel at UBS Investment Bank, providing legal support on U.S. tax, U.S. securities, and general legal matters relating to the design, implementation and operation of UBS’s world-wide incentive compensation, equity, and deferred compensation plans.

Experience

Management Team and Other Transactional Representations

  • The CEO, President, CFO, and General Counsel of a multi-billion dollar insurance company, relating to the negotiation of their employment agreements and equity awards in connection with the company’s $2 billion initial public offering on the NYSE.
  • The CEO, CFO, COO and 10 other members of the management team of a general liability insurance provider, relating to the negotiation of their employment, retention, severance and deferred compensation arrangements in connection with the $700 million acquisition of the company by a global, multi-billion-dollar publicly traded insurance underwriter.
  • The 65-person “Tier I” management team of a global consulting firm in connection with the $500 million sale of the firm to a private equity firm, relating to the negotiation of the employment, equity, and retention award agreements.
  • The Chief Investment Officer and top seven portfolio managers of a private equity fund with $4 billion under management, relating to the renegotiation of their employment and retention agreements in connection with the $200 million acquisition of the management company by one of the world’s largest alternative investment management companies.
  • The CEO, CFO, COO and other members of the management team of a specialized logistics and delivery company, relating to the negotiation of their employment agreements, equity grants, and restrictive covenant agreements in connection with the $50 million acquisition of the company by a global publicly traded delivery company.
  • A family office with over $600 million in investments, in connection with the negotiation and drafting of the employment, equity and deferred compensation arrangements for its new Investment Manager.
  • The founding partners of a $400 million hedge fund created as a result of the spin-off of proprietary capital from an investment bank, in connection with the negotiation and drafting of the hedge fund operating documents, including all employment-related agreements and arrangements.
  • One of the two founding partners of a private equity firm, in connection with the negotiation and drafting of the firm’s limited liability company operating agreement.
  • An aviation consulting firm in connection with the creation of a $25 million annual partnership distribution and deferred compensation program.
  • The founding partners of an independent equities research firm, in connection with the negotiation and drafting of the firm’s limited liability company operating agreement.
  • A medical practice group, in connection with its acquisition (and the subsequent employment of the doctors) by a highly regarded major metropolitan hospital, including the negotiation and drafting of the acquisition agreement and the employment agreements.
  • A New York City-wide food wholesaler and retailer, in connection with the restructuring of the organization and the concurrent sale of one-third of the company to a new partner.
  • The founding partners of a global fashion production company, in connection with the negotiation and drafting of the firm’s limited liability company operating agreement and related service agreements.

Company-Side Representations

  • A family office with over $1 billion in assets, in connection with all general corporate, transactional and employment matters generally.
  • A healthcare integrated solutions consulting firm, acting as an expert witness in connection with a litigation relating to executive compensation matters.
  • A strategic fundraising consulting firm with $75 million in revenue and over 300 employees, for all employment matters generally.
  • An early child care education center, in connection with drafting, negotiating and implementing a phantom equity plan for the benefit of its senior management team.
  • A newly established bit-coin technology company, for all employment matters generally, including the drafting of the limited liability company operating agreement and the company’s employment agreements and restrictive covenant agreements.
  • A publicly traded brand name investment bank, for select employment, deferred compensation, and employment litigation matters.
  • A multi-million-dollar fashion production company, for all matters generally.
  • The founder and sole proprietor of a public relations firm, for all matters generally.
  • A newly established men’s fashion accessories company, for all employment matters generally.
  • A specialty high-end skin care and cosmetics company, for all matters generally.

Chief Executive Officer Representations

  • The new CEO of a private equity firm with over $75 billion in assets under management, in connection with the negotiation of his employment agreement and equity arrangements.
  • The existing CEO of a $3 billion health, medical and dental insurance plan company, in connection with the renegotiation of her employment agreement and other arrangements.
  • The new CEO of a global high-end clothing company, in connection with the negotiation of her employment agreement, equity arrangements, and relocation benefits.
  • The new CEO of a publicly traded North American resort and adventure company, in connection with the negotiation of his employment agreement, equity grants, relocation benefits and deferred compensation awards.
  • The new CEO of a private equity owned premier consignment company, in connection with the negotiation of her employment agreement, equity grants, and deferred compensation awards.
  • The new CEO of a national wholesale craft juice company, relating to the negotiation of his employment agreement, equity grants and executive benefits in connection with the company’s acquisition by a private equity firm.
  • The new CEO of the US subsidiary of one of the world’s largest publicly traded pharmaceutical drug companies, in connection with the negotiation of her employment agreement, equity grants, and deferred compensation awards.
  • The new Chairman and CEO of one of the leading global companies that manufactures and markets tailored clothing and sportswear, in connection with the negotiation of his employment agreement and a change in control bonus plan.
  • The new Chairman and CEO of the US subsidiary of one of the world’s largest and most recognizable high-end men’s clothing brands, in connection with the negotiation of his employment arrangements, including his equity grant, relocation package, perquisite allowance, and other executive-level benefits
  • The existing CEO of a publicly traded company that acquires, leases, and sells high-utility commercial jet aircraft, in connection with the re-negotiation of his existing employment agreement, and terms and conditions of his equity grants and severance protection.
  • The new CEO of a newspaper pulp manufacturing company, relating to the negotiation of his employment agreement and equity grants in connection with the company’s acquisition by a private equity fund.
  • The founder, owner and CEO of a real estate advisory firm in connection with his firm’s bankruptcy and the subsequent sale of its assets to a private equity fund, and in connection with the subsequent negotiation of his employment arrangements at the acquiring portfolio company.
  • The CEO of a national leadership training and executive coaching company, in connection with the termination of his employment.
  • The CEO of the US subsidiary of a publicly traded vegetable oil production and distribution company, in connection with the termination of his employment.
  • The CEO of a highly visible, brand-name publicly traded footwear manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer, in connection with the termination of his employment.
  • The CEO of a workforce management consulting and implementation firm, in connection with the termination of her employment.

Other Executive Officer Representations

  • The new Senior Vice President and Vice Chairman of a well-known fine art auction and private sale house, in connection with the renegotiation of his employment arrangements.
  • The new COO of a Premier League football club, in connection with his employment arrangements, relocation agreement and equity awards.
  • A high-end celebrity make-up artist and cosmetics company founder, in connection with the negotiation of a multi-million dollar investment by a private equity firm in the cosmetics company and the associated employment agreement and equity arrangements.
  • The new CFO of a highly visible, national lifestyle brand and cycling studio, in connection with the negotiation of his employment arrangements and equity grants.
  • The new General Counsel of a multi-billion dollar global investment bank, in connection with the negotiation of his employment arrangements.
  • The existing Executive Vice President and CEO heir-apparent of a publicly traded retail and commercial bank, in connection with the re-negotiation of her employment and relocation arrangements.
  • The existing President and COO of a privately held real estate investment firm with over $1 billion in assets, in connection with the re-negotiation of his employment, equity and deferred compensation arrangements.
  • The existing Vice Chairman of one of the world’s largest commercial real estate brokerage firms, in connection with the re-negotiation of her on-going employment arrangements.
  • The new Michelin-starred Executive Chef of a new restaurant opening in Brooklyn, NY, in connection with the negotiation of her employment and equity arrangements.
  • The new Chief Strategy Officer of one of the world’s largest publicly traded concert promotion companies, in connection with the negotiation of his employment and equity arrangements.
  • A Professor of Economics at one of the world’s leading universities, in connection with the negotiation of her appointment and tenure status.
  • The existing Chief Revenue Officer of one of the world’s largest internet service providers, relating to the re-negotiation of his employment arrangements in connection with an internal reorganization of the company.
  • The President of a subsidiary of one of the world’s largest publicly traded shipping, mailing and e-commerce technology companies, relating to the termination of her employment in connection with the sale of the subsidiary to another company.
  • The Chief Marketing Officer of a publicly traded well-known fine art auction and private sale house, in connection with the termination of her employment.
  • The CFO of a publicly traded indoor water park company, in connection with the termination of his employment following the company’s acquisition by a private equity firm.
  • The General Counsel of a global fashion brand, in connection with the termination of her employment.

Professional Activities

American Bar Association
New York City Bar Association

Jeff Laska's headshot

Education

  • New York University School of Law, LL.M. (Tax)
  • Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, J.D.
  • American University, B.A. Economics

Bar Admissions

  • New York
  • Connecticut

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