Event details
October 21 – December 9, 2026

Event summary

Cooley’s Comp Talks series is a program designed to address hot topics in executive, director and equity compensation specific to companies in various stages of their life cycle – from formation and fundraising to initial public offering and beyond. Cooley practitioners and industry leaders deliver practical, timely insights on compensation trends and strategies and the challenges companies face when balancing legal, tax and governance requirements with market expectations and practical business needs.

Designed for executives, founders, board members, investors, and legal and finance professionals, each session tackles key issues in designing, implementing and managing effective compensation programs that align with established and emerging best practices and the latest market data.

With tailored sessions for private companies (early-stage startups building a first equity plan through the mid-stage growth phase), late-stage private companies (those preparing for an IPO or acquisition) and public companies (those navigating say on pay, disclosure obligations and incentive design), Comp Talks brings together Cooley lawyers and guest experts to break down what you need to know – and what’s coming next.

If compensation issues are crossing your desk, you don’t want to miss Comp Talks.

October 21, 2026 | 10:00 am PT

Wheeling and Dealing: Compensation Issues in M&A

2026 deal numbers have hit record highs, so companies and deal teams need to know what their best strategic plays might be. Cooley’s Ali Murata, Michael Bergmann and Rama Padmanabhan will discuss tips and trends surrounding transaction structure, equity treatment, management and employee transition, and market outlook to help keep your game sharp.


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Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | 10:00 am PT

High-Quality Performance Award Design

The popularity of total shareholder return (TSR) and the three-year performance period are the mere tip of the iceberg in equity incentive design. A lot of potential value – and traps – lie in detailed nuances (metrics selection, measurement methodology, weighting calculation) and a thorough consideration of how expected and unexpected scenarios might play out. Learn how to bump your performance award design up a tier or two with this pragmatic program from Cooley’s Ali Murata, with guests Tara Tays and Cady Greenbaum.

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Wednesday, December 9, 2026 | 10:00 am PT

2027 Proxy Season Preview

Join Cooley partners Ali Murata and Brad Goldberg, along with Compensia principal Mark Borges, for this annual blockbuster program to understand all you need to know in the wake of a rapidly evolving landscape of executive compensation disclosures. There hasn’t been this much change in decades. We will offer plenty of practical nuggets to help you handle a new playing field, including evolving investor and proxy advisor policies.

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For more information, please email Taylor Tommie.

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