Share Schemes and Employee Incentives

In an ever-evolving world where companies and individuals are constantly considering and trying to understand tax and wealth implications, having the right support is essential. Our global team of experts will provide you with the advice you need to prepare and consider the appropriate structure for your reward or incentive arrangements, helping you to plan for a successful future.

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By motivating your employees to become more productive by fulfilling their interests, whilst retaining and attracting new talent, means that you will be competitive in the market and demonstrate your ability to put your employees first.

The key to a successful incentives scheme – such as an employee share scheme – is careful design and implementation, as well as effective communication of the scheme and its benefits. Our experts can navigate the rules, helping you to avoid pitfalls to attract and retain key personnel.

Our tax team advises a wide range of clients from small and medium sized enterprises to large international publicly listed companies in relation to share schemes.

We advise on:

the design, structuring and implementation of multi-jurisdiction all-employee share schemes, tax approved and unapproved share schemes (including CSOPs and EMI), discretionary arrangements, long term incentive plans, virtual or phantom share schemes;
private company employee or manager equity participation, including at subsidiary level, through management incentives and/or growth or flowering shares, and the use of ratchets, particularly in private equity fund-backed Management Buy-Outs/ Management Buy-Ins/Institutional Buy-Outs;
private company investments, M&A and public company takeover (including reverse takeovers) involving due diligence; exercising arrangements; employee communication; and share option roll-over; and
providing tax, employment law and corporate advice in respect of all aspects of share schemes.

With our presence on the global stage, DWF can rely on an extensive network of skilled lawyers in all major jurisdictions to provide our clients a seamless and co-ordinated approach to significant cross-border cases.

In addition, we draw on recognised experts in key industry sectors and specialist areas of law, making us well placed to advise on the full range of tax issues - whatever sector or sectors the company operates within.

Get in touch today if you need advice.