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Employee Incentive Arrangements

Our Corporate & Commercial Team advise companies on all aspects of their corporate law requirements including employee incentive schemes and arrangements.

What are Employee Incentive Schemes?

Incentive schemes generally take the form of a share incentive arrangement with the company issuing either shares which are subject to certain rights or restrictions or share options entitling the holder to exercise and own the shares at a point in the future when certain thresholds or targets are met by the employees.

Why do Companies Implement Employee Incentive Schemes?

Companies may decide to implement management or employee incentive arrangements to achieve buy-in from executives in the expansion of a company and as a reward for their contribution to its growth.

Our Employee Incentive Scheme Expertise

Our Corporate & Commercial Team regularly advise companies on Employee Incentive Schemes and Arrangements including:

  • Good & Bad Leaver Provisions: It is important in any share scheme that the shares are capable of being bought back or that the options lapse once the employee becomes a leaver.

  • Growth Share Schemes: Shares may be growth shares entitling the holder to participate in the growth of the company above today’s valuation.

  • Restricted Share Schemes. Where a share incentive scheme is based on the issue of shares, such shares may be restricted shares meaning the holder is restricted for a specified amount of time in respect of their sale or transfer. Restricted shares are held by a trustee and do not have voting.

  • Share Option Schemes: An employee share option scheme involves the issuing of options over shares. The options may be exercisable on a specified date in the future, for example after the employee has remained with the company for a specified amount of time or after the attainment of specified targets. The options may also be exercisable if there is a sale of the company.

  • Share Scheme Documents: For any share scheme, our Corporate & Commercial team will prepare scheme rules, trust deeds, shareholder agreements and option letters.

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Why Choose Lavelle for Employee Incentive Arrangements?

  • Our award-winning Corporate & Commercial Team have a wealth of practical experience in advising on all aspects of Employee Incentive Arrangements, having successfully advised many organisations on their share options.

  • We have particular industry know-how and specialist sector expertise in advising clients in healthcare, industrials & manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and technologies.

  • As a full-service law firm, client's benefit from our multi-disciplinary offering and our specialist legal expertise across a number of related practice areas including Banking & Finance, Employment and Property.

  • Our Corporate & Commercial solicitors are pragmatic, pro-active and with strong business acumen to advise on the optimal strategy for your organisation.

  • We are a partner-led firm, meaning you can be confident that an experienced solicitor will advise on the best option for your Employee Incentive Arrangement.

Need Help? Just Ask. Image

Need Help? Just Ask.

For expert legal advice on Employee Incentive Arrangements, call us on +353 1 644 5800 or email law@lavellepartners.ie

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