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Paul Hastings LLP has announced the addition of executive compensation lawyer Jason Ertel to its global compensation, benefits, and ERISA practice as a partner based in New York. Ertel, who has more than 17 years of experience, specializes in advising public and private companies, private equity sponsors, management teams, and corporate boards on complex executive compensation, employee benefits, and corporate governance issues.

Ertel expressed his enthusiasm for joining Paul Hastings in an interview with Law360 Pulse, calling the firm a premier global law firm. "As I was looking at firms, I found an energy and drive here that I didn't see anywhere else," he said. "There's clearly a continuing commitment across the partnership to excellence, and that translates directly into exceptional outcomes for clients. That's going to be great for my practice, for my clients, and for my ability to service the existing clients of the firm."

Before joining Paul Hastings, Ertel was a partner at Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP. He has also served as counsel at Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP and as an associate at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.

Ertel’s expertise includes the compensation, employee benefits, and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) aspects of mergers and acquisitions, employment negotiations, and compensation plan structuring. He also provides guidance on deferred compensation regulations under Sections 409A and 457A of the Internal Revenue Code, "golden parachute" rules under Section 280G, and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission disclosure requirements related to executive compensation matters.

Ertel emphasized the enduring relevance of executive compensation in his field. "Senior executive and CEO pay is a perennial target of regulators, so we're busy," he said. He also noted that a significant part of his practice will involve supporting the firm’s transactional practices with M&A activity. "I think the markets are pretty prime for increased transactional activity in the second half of this year and going into next year," Ertel said. "There's a lot of money out there that investors are looking to deploy. Existing investors are looking to monetize their existing investments, and with Paul Hastings' vast PE expertise, I expect demand for my practice to be quite strong assisting on those transactions."

Reflecting on his career path, Ertel shared that his initial interest in tax law during his time at Columbia Law School led him to discover a passion for executive compensation work. He found the field to be a blend of tax, M&A, securities regulation, and bankruptcy and restructuring, with a relatable personal component. "We all work for a paycheck at the end of the day, and I enjoy that aspect of my practice, working with clients on issues that are very near and dear to themselves personally, as well as institutionally," he said.

Ertel holds a bachelor's degree in economics and classical Greek from the University of Notre Dame.

Paul Hastings Chair Frank Lopez highlighted the synergy between Ertel's practice and the firm's corporate offerings. "As we continue to strengthen our corporate platform," Lopez said, "Jason's deep and diverse experience in matters across the executive compensation spectrum will be invaluable to clients needing top-tier, full-service compensation, ERISA and benefits advice."