Kimberly Wethly advises clients on the full range of executive compensation and employment‑related matters, with a particular focus on the design, implementation and administration of equity awards and other equity‑based compensation programs, including complex structures for both private and public companies. Clients note that she “is among the best executive compensation lawyers in the United States, demonstrating both deep expertise and pragmatism.”

Ms. Wethly is recognized for her extensive experience across the tax, corporate, securities and accounting aspects of executive compensation. She represents public and privately held companies, boards of directors and compensation committees, as well as corporate executives and management teams. Her work includes advising on compensation program design and compliance, and she regularly counsels clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, spinoffs, company formations, financings, restructurings and public offerings.

Her broad practice also includes nonqualified deferred compensation plans, incentive plans, and executive, retention, severance and change‑in‑control arrangements. She frequently guides companies preparing for initial public offerings, including developing post‑IPO equity incentive plans and employee stock purchase plans. In addition, she has significant experience assisting public and private companies with option repricings and related tender offer documentation.

Ms. Wethly also advises founders and emerging companies on equity and compensation structures through WilmerHale Launch, where she regularly supports startups navigating growth, fundraising and employee‑related compensation issues.

Ms. Wethly has been repeatedly recognized for her work by leading legal publications, including Boston Magazine, Best Lawyers in America, Chambers & Partners, Lawdragon, Legal 500, and others, and has been named a “Go to Taxation Lawyer” by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Clients further report that Ms. Wethly “demonstrates an excellent depth of knowledge regarding equity compensation matters” and describe her as “a go‑to counsel for clear advice.”

Thought Leadership

Ms. Wethly is widely recognized as an executive compensation attorney with deep technical experience advising public companies, private companies and emerging growth clients. She frequently writes and presents on topics such as:

• Equity compensation design and administration, including stock options, RSUs, PSUs and evolving market practices
• Executive compensation issues in corporate transactions, including M&A, IPOs, de‑SPAC transactions, spinoffs and restructurings
• Public‑company and post‑IPO compensation planning, including equity incentive plans and employee stock purchase plans
• Option repricings and employee tender offers, including tax, securities law and disclosure requirements
• Nonqualified deferred compensation and Section 409A compliance
• Executive and director compensation governance, including compensation committee processes and public‑company oversight requirements
• Retention, severance, and change‑in‑control arrangements, including best‑practice design and market benchmarking
• Startup and emerging‑company equity structures, including founder equity, capitalization planning and early‑stage award design

Professional Activities