Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is pleased to announce that Jared Whalen has joined the firm’s Houston office as a partner in the Tax, Employee Benefits and Trusts and Estates practice group. He was most recently a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
Whalen’s move to Sheppard Mullin follows a string of Texas-based lateral partners this year, including Healthcare partners Tammy Woffenden and Ashley Wheelock in Houston and a six-attorney white collar defense group in Dallas.
A leading executive compensation attorney, Whalen advises public and private companies, including private equity funds and their portfolio companies, on complex issues arising out of executive compensation and employee benefits matters in corporate transactions, including strategic mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations and financing transactions. He advises clients on the design and implementation and operation of equity incentive plans, as well as the negotiation of executive employment, change in control and separation agreements in connection with executive hires and departures.
“As the firm continues to see strong demand from our private equity and public company clients, Jared’s knowledge and experience in sophisticated transactions and their unique executive compensation and tax issues make him an invaluable resource to our transactional practices,” said Luca Salvi, chair of Sheppard Mullin.
Michael Chan, leader of Sheppard Mullin’s Tax, Employee Benefits and Trusts and Estates practice, noted, “Tax considerations are a crucial part of every transaction, and our team of highly experienced tax attorneys is well equipped to advise clients on complex matters and to support them in achieving successful outcomes and attaining their business goals. Jared has worked with a wide range of public and private sector clients, bringing significant experience navigating high-stakes, strategic transactions. We are delighted to have Jared join us and to bring his market experience and high-caliber expertise to the team.”
On joining the firm, Whalen commented, “I look forward to working with my colleagues across the firm’s transactional practices and advising clients as they continue to grow through investments and mergers.”
Whalen obtained his B.S., magna cum laude, from Trinity University and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.
About Sheppard Mullin’s Tax, Employee Benefits and Trusts and Estates Practice
Sheppard Mullin's tax attorneys provide sophisticated advice in all areas of corporate, partnership, real estate, renewable energy, tax credit transactions and international taxation; employee benefits; executive compensation; private equity and hedge fund formation and operation; debt and equity financing and derivative and hybrid securities; tax-exempt organizations; and estate planning and wealth transfer. In conjunction with the firm's litigation attorneys, we have also handled tax-related matters in state and federal courts and before the United States Tax Court. Our attorneys consistently foster and maintain contacts with government officials and are active in the Tax Sections of the American Bar Association, California Bar Association and County Bar Associations.