Silicon Valley (December 5, 2024) – Freshfields announced today that Heather Brookfield has joined the firm in its U.S. employee benefits & executive compensation practice as a Silicon Valley-based partner. Heather’s practice focuses on the representation of companies in their compensation and employee benefits matters.  This includes advising on M&A, IPOs and other capital markets transactions, the design, drafting and administration of equity-based compensation programs, as well as employment, consulting, retention, severance, change in control and deferred compensation arrangements. She regularly advises public and private companies on corporate governance and compliance matters associated with compensation and benefits. Co-Head of U.S. Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Lori Goodman stated: “Heather’s seniority and depth of experience is a huge asset to our team. The diversity of her client work and her deep expertise in the complicated laws that govern the practice make her a dynamic addition to our team and the partnership as a whole.” “Strategic executive compensation and benefits advice is critical to achieving our clients’ business objectives both in the transactional and operational context. Heather’s skillset matches the needs of our clients and further enhances our ability to support a broad range of transactional and advisory matters,” added Nicole Foster, Co-Head of U.S. Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation at Freshfields. U.S. Managing Partner Sarah Solum shared: “With more than two decades of experience in Silicon Valley, Heather brings broad technical expertise and deep market knowledge that companies rely on when designing compensation programs and arrangements, complying with tax, accounting and securities laws and executing complex transactions. Her experience strengthens our ability to support companies throughout the corporate life cycle, and we are delighted to welcome her to the firm.” Heather has advised on the employee benefits and compensation aspects of many significant transactions over the course of her career. Recent transactions include mergers and acquisitions for Advanced Biologics, Ironshore Therapeutics, Norwest Venture Partners, RPT Realty and Synaptics, as well as numerous acquisitions for Uber. Heather added: “I am thrilled to be joining Freshfields during this period of growth. The strength of the firm’s global executive compensation and benefits offering is unparalleled and I look forward to continuing to build the team’s capabilities.” Heather’s joining builds on the expansion of the firm’s Silicon Valley office this year, joining alongside capital markets partner Calise Cheng today. Other recent additions in California include partners Denny Kwon (M&A), Eva Mak (private equity), Phillip Stoup (capital markets) and Nicole Cadman (emerging companies).