Brian K. Wydajewski
Biography
Brian K. Wydajewski is a senior partner in the Firm’s Chicago office where he chairs the Employment and Compensation practice and serves as a member of the Steering Committee for the Firm's North American Employment and Compensation practice. As part of his practice, Brian is a frequent speaker and author on global employment and compensation topics. In addition, Brian is past chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Employee Benefits Section Council, and previously served as an adjunct professor at the Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits at the University of Illinois Chicago Law School. As a ranked Band 4 Practitioner by Chambers USA, clients have noted that “Brian is a strong partner who is responsive to our needs and provides good analysis and resources” and “He is just an all around expert.”
Practice Focus
As one of the leaders of the Firm’s preeminent Compensation practice, Brian serves as a trusted and respected advisor to an extensive number of large multinational organizations on the design, implementation and operation of complex global equity and cash compensation plans. In addition, Brian devotes a substantial portion of his practice to providing practical and commercially pragmatic guidance and advice to companies on global employment and compensation issues in domestic and cross-border transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, separation and spin-offs, and internal reorganizations.
Representative Legal Matters
- Conducting global review of payroll tax implications of various components of compensation for multinational information technology company across 58 countries.
- Advised multinational enterprise information technology company on global equity compensation and employment issues associated with the company’s USD 14 billion acquisition of a global networking technology enterprise across 58 countries.
- Advised global biotechnology company on global and employment compensation matters associated with the company’s (1) USD 3 billion acquisition of a next-generation proteomics solutions company across 16 countries, and (2) USD 17 billion acquisition of a global contract research organization providing comprehensive, integrated drug development, laboratory and lifecycle management services across 49 countries.
- Assisted global financial institution with establishing automated procedures and templates for offer letters and employment agreements for newly-hired executives in over 40 countries.
- Advised global science and technology company on the global compensation aspects of the company’s separation and spin-off of its environmental and applied solutions business into an independent publicly traded corporation across 40 countries.
- Advised global financial services company on the impact of an internal corporate reorganization on outstanding equity compensation grants held by employees in 20 countries.
- Served as lead M&A counsel for multinational medical devices company on multiple transactions with responsibility for domestic and international employment, compensation and benefits matters.
- Advised international engineering and construction corporation on remedial actions for legal, regulatory and tax errors associated with equity compensation grants made to employees in various countries.
- Advising global agricultural company on employment, compensation and benefits matters associated with establishment of a joint venture with operations in more than 30 countries.
- Counseling over 35 multinational companies on the various legal, regulatory and tax issues associated with the annual grant of various equity compensation vehicles to employees in more than 60 countries.
Professional Honors
- Recognized Practitioner (Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation), Chambers USA, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023
- Band 4 Practitioner (Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation), Chambers USA, 2024, 2025
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Global Equity Organization
- Illinois State Bar Association
- National Association of Stock Plan Professionals
- American Bar Association
- Chicago Bar Association
Admissions
- Illinois~United States (1994)
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois~United States
- U.S. Tax Court~United States
Education
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law (J.D., Senior Member, Loyola University of Chicago Law Journal, 1992-1994) (1994)
- DePaul University (B.S. Accounting, Certified Public Accountant (November 1988), Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity, Congressional Intern – U.S. Rep. Harris W. Fawell (1987)) (1988)
Languages
- English