Companies Are Merging: So, What Will Be the Compensation (cash, stock and more) for Executives?

 M&A is ticking up. With FTC former chair Lina Khan out, businesses can anticipate a downshift in aggressive scrutiny.

Part of putting the M&A together is determining the total compensation for the brass. That ranges from cash payments to stock options. 

So, it's no surprise that law firm Paul Weiss, which has been on a global hiring spree, would poach an expert in executive compensation in the M&A practice. This is big. The hire as partner is Matthew Friestedt who had been head of Sullivan & Cromwell's Executive Compensation M&A practice. He was part of the dealmaking at AT&T and Kraft. 

As an aside, one wonders if Sullivan & Cromwell's new RTO policy of five-days-a-week in the office influenced Friestedt's decision-making. BTI Consulting found that the majority of partners resent RTO edicts. 

In 2024, Paul Weiss represented 224 deals. Among its major clients is Apollo. Since its CEO Marc Rowan was given a five-year contract, that account seems stable.

UPDATE:

At Davos 2025, Bank of America head Brian Moynihan picks up on lots of enthusiasm for deals.  That's encouraging for law firms to hear. But more telling is what those who interpret what the Trump Administration is up to. MAGA Man wields more power than Davos Man. 

UPDATE: 

Paul Weiss' London office's M&A practice could be busy. Bloomberg reports the UK ousts the antitrust watchdog to accelerate growth. In the US official watchdog Lina Khan is out. Paul Weiss has been stocking the London operation with big names.

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