Executive Compensation

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Executive Compensation

Our HR & Employment Attorneys have extensive experience in the area of executive compensation and executive contracts. The firm regularly works with employers, boards of directors, compensation committees, and individual executives, including those at the C-Suite and VP levels, in Minnesota and nationwide.  FMJ works with clients to design, draft, and interpret executive compensation plans and strategies.  The firm also litigates issues regarding executive compensation.

Services Provided

The following list is an example of some of the services that our HR & Employment Law Team can provide.

  • Stock Option Plans
  • Equity Participation Plans
  • Profits Interests
  • Phantom Stock and Stock Appreciation Rights
  • Restricted Stock
  • Deferred Compensation Plans
  • Bonus and Commission Plans
  • Retention and Stay Bonuses
  • Change-of-Control Provisions
  • Restrictive Covenants
  • Claw-Backs
  • Top-Hat Plans
  • Key Employee Retention Plans
  • Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans
  • Severance Plans
  • Severance Agreements
  • Buy-Sell Agreements
  • Succession Planning
  • Executive Contracts

Our attorneys can also assist with compliance in related areas, including:

  • Sections 409(A), 280G, and 499 of the Tax Code
  • ERISA
  • State and Federal Securities Laws
  • The Sarbanes-Oxley Act
  • Bankruptcy Considerations
  • Other Regulatory Provisions

Please reach out today for assistance with your Executive Compensation matters.

Executive Compensation Team

V. John Ella
John Ella practices in all aspects of commercial litigation, employment law, and business law, and he has extensive knowledge and experience in all of these areas. John is a prolific writer and a thought leader in these areas, and he is a Qualified Neutral under Minnesota Rule 114.
V. John Ella
Shareholder
Natolie S. Hochhausen
Natolie provides clients with sophisticated guidance on a range of employment law issues, along with practical advice to navigate the complexities of day-to-day employee relations issues.
Natolie S. Hochhausen
Shareholder
Heidi A. Carpenter
Heidi Carpenter is a commercial, business, and mergers and acquisitions attorney, and she is the CEO of FMJ. She advises middle-market companies, business owners, and investors on M&A transactions, corporate governance, and business law matters throughout Minnesota and beyond.
Heidi A. Carpenter
Chief Executive Officer & Shareholder
Shannon M. McDonough
Shannon McDonough is the Chair of FMJ’s Employment and Litigation Practice Groups. Her legal practice is national in scope and includes employment litigation, commercial litigation, and unfair competition. Shannon also provides sophisticated employment and HR advising services.
Shannon M. McDonough
Shareholder
Lindsey E. Krause
Lindsey partners with employers to advise them on all aspects of HR & Employment Law. She regularly assists employers with drafting and revising employee handbooks, employment agreements, and other workplace documents, as well as guiding internal investigations, performance management, and disciplinary actions.
Lindsey E. Krause
Associate

Executive Compensation Resources

March 2026

FMJ Welcomes HR & Employment Attorney Lindsey Krause

Lindsey will handle a wide range of labor and employment matters. Welcome to FMJ! Read more

March 2026

Employment Law Considerations for Non-Employees in Minnesota, Including LLC Members, Founders, and Nonprofit Organization Members

Learn how Minnesota employment laws apply to founders, nonprofits, and business owners, and when to seek legal help. Read more

February 2026

Are AI Generated Documents Privileged? No, According to a Recent Court Ruling.

AI searches and documents may not be protected by the attorney-client privilege. Read more

November 2025

Heidi Carpenter Selected for Ranking on Legal500 Minneapolis Elite

Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Heidi! Read more

August 2025

John Ella Chosen for the Employment Law Power List

John has been honored among the top employment lawyers in Minnesota. Read more

August 2025

Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Program – FMJ Law Podcast Episode 35

PFML is live January 1, 2026, and there are other employer requirements in December 2025. Is your org ready? Read more

July 2025

Breaking Down the “Big, Beautiful Bill” – What do Workers and Employers Need to Know?

John Ella looks at the employment law impact of the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act. Read more

July 2025

Minnesota Monthly Selects 11 FMJ Attorneys for the 2025 Top Lawyers List

Congratulations to these 11 attorneys across 9 practice areas! Read more

July 2025

Heidi Carpenter Named to the Forbes America’s Best-in-State Lawyers List

Congratulations, Heidi, on being selected as one of only eight attorneys in Minnesota. Read more

June 2025

More Minnesota Employment Law Changes: 2025 Legislative Session Update

Learn about changes that include employee breaks, ESST, Paid Leave, and more. Read more

June 2025

Federal Court Tackles Definition of “Solicitation” Under Minnesota Employment Law, and Finds that the Devil is in the Details

The case provides some clarity for determining when a former employee has breached their non-solicitation obligations. Read more

May 2025

UPDATE: Minnesota’s Secure Choice Mandatory Retirement Program Will Become “Available” on or After January 1, 2026

Employers should begin preparing now to comply with the new requirements of the SCRP. Read more

March 2025

John Ella to Present to MSBA About Non-Competes in Minnesota

March 18, 2025 through the Minnesota State Bar Association. Read more

January 2025

U.S. Supreme Court Clarifies Evidence Standard Under the Fair Labor Standards Act

On January 15, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in E.M.D. Sales, Inc., et al. v. Carrera, et. al., which will... Read more

December 2024

Federal Judge in Minnesota Raises Public-Policy Concerns About the Scope of Non-Solicitation Agreements

This case is notable for its discussion of public policy with non-solicitation provisions for financial advisors under Minnesota common law. Read more

More Resources

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Our Banking & Financial Institution team includes lending attorneys, bankruptcy attorneys, corporate attorneys, commercial and special asset attorneys, and attorneys with experience serving on bank loan committees, boards of directors of banks, and bank holding companies.
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Bankruptcy & Insolvency

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Our Bankruptcy & Insolvency attorneys represent creditors in all aspects of bankruptcy, reorganization, and workouts, and appear in courtrooms across the country. Our philosophy is to actively participate in every phase of the workout and reorganization process.
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Fafinski Mark & Johnson is a leader in helping businesses to protect their reputations and navigate defamation claims, including both libel and slander.
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Fafinski Mark & Johnson is a thought leader working on the cutting edge of ETA. We value the flexibility and opportunity that ETA transactions provide for our clients, and our team has the capacity and depth of knowledge to handle issues that arise while keeping the the deal moving toward closing.
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General Corporate & Business

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Our General Corporate & Business group works with organizations of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, across all industries, helping them devise strategies and solve problems. Much of the work we do is contractual – structuring, negotiating, and reviewing contracts.
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HR & Employment

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Our HR & Employment attorneys guide our clients through the complexities of employment procedures and policies, employee benefits, hiring and termination practices, and compliance with ever-changing employment laws. We combine our knowledge of the law with specifics of our clients’ businesses to produce optimal outcomes.
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Our Intellectual Property attorneys assist with trademark and copyright registration, compliance and licensing, dispute resolution, and pre-dispute counseling. We also have the technical, business, and legal acumen necessary to provide counsel on various intellectual property matters.
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Litigation

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From local courtrooms to the United States Supreme Court, our Litigation group has a proven track record of obtaining favorable outcomes for our clients in a wide variety of legal disputes. We specialize in commercial, general, employment, shareholder, insurance defense, product liability, aviation, transportation, real estate, and appellate litigation.
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