Steven G. Eckhaus

Steven G. Eckhaus

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Qualifications and Career Profile

Steven G. Eckhaus, Chair of the Executive Employment Practice, is a litigator, negotiator and advisor with over 30 years of experience in executive compensation, employment law, investment management, corporate and securities law, real estate, dispute resolution and counseling.

Mr. Eckhaus advises leaders of the financial services, real estate, pharmaceutical, biotech, publishing, entertainment and consumer industries on compensation and employment matters; negotiates their employment agreements; represents management teams in private equity transactions; advises compensation committees; counsels executives and employers on non-competition, confidentiality and trade secret agreements; and counsels management on the design of compensation plans.

In trials and appeals involving significant public policy issues, Mr. Eckhaus was responsible for expanding the scope of protections for U.S. workers employed by foreign corporations (Morelli v. Cedel, 141 F.3d 39 (2d Cir. 1998)), and establishing the legal basis for emerging family responsibilities protections (Matter of Trezza, 1998 U.S. Dist Lexis 20206 (S.D.N.Y.)).

Mr. Eckhaus served as an owner's representative on the supervisory boards of major and iconic New York City properties including the Empire State Building; negotiated the purchase of a NYC office building for $152 million; directed a $57 million §1031 “like kind” exchange deferring $26 million in taxes from the sale of a NYC hotel; and supervised a $21 million leasing transaction.

Recognition

In each of the past four years, Mr. Eckhaus has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in the field of Employment Law, and in May 2009 was named by Human Resource Executive as among the 100 Most Powerful Employment Lawyers in America and listed among the top 15 in New York. Mr. Eckhaus is a Contributing Expert to the World Justice Project in the area of Employment Law and is listed in its "Rule of Law Index 2011." He was recently named to Lawdragon's 2011 "Top 20 in Employee Benefits and ERISA" list.

Memberships and Associations

Mr. Eckhaus is on the Advisory Board of the University of California at Hastings Law School Center for WorkLife Law, the Cornell University Library Advisory Council and is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.

Lectures and Articles

A sought-after speaker and author on the design of compensation plans, executive pay, employment agreements and statutory civil actions, Mr. Eckhaus’ recent speaking engagements, publications and media mentions include:

   Speaking Engagements
  • "Cutting Edge Employment Law and Executive Pay Issues of Importance to CFOs," CFOs Conference, New York State Society of CPAs, New York City (June 17, 2010).
  • "Getting Off the Canvas, Executive Compensation and Contracts Going Forward," The Links Club, New York City (May 13, 2010).
  • "Where Are the Jobs and What Are the Economics?" RegentAtlantic Capital, LLC's Wall Street Women Forum (May 12, 2010).
  • "Crisis Management for Hedge Funds and Managers: Planning for Survival or Reincarnation. Employment Management," Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, New York City (February 25, 2009).
  • "Notice, Garden Leave and Restrictive Covenants,” Infovest, Cornell Club, New York City (July 15, 2008).
  • "The Impact of Competitive Pay Models and Other Poorly Designed Incentive Compensation Plans on the Sub-Prime Mortgage Crisis," Kingdee International Software Group, Guangdong Venture Capital Group, Ltd, Sun Yat Sen University, China (April 13, 2008).
  • "Everything You Wanted to Know About Negotiating Employment Agreements But Were Afraid to Ask," Financial Women's Association, New York City (April 7, 2008).
  • "It's Not Your Father's Incentive Compensation: Modern Elements of Executive Pay," American Association of Certified Public Accountants, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Las Vegas, Nevada (March 9, 2008).
  • "The Design of Incentive Compensation Plans,” Shenzhen Stock Exchange, Guangzhou Venture Capital Association, South China University, Guangdong, China (July 12, 2007).
  • "Incentive Compensation," Fudan University, Shanghai, China (July 10, 2007).
  • "Negotiating the CEO's Employment Contract," Sanford Bernstein, New York City (February 14, 2007).

   Publications

   Media Mentions

Education and Bar/Court Admissions

A Rhodes Scholar nominee, Mr. Eckhaus earned his Bachelor of Science from Cornell University in 1972 and his Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School in 1976. He is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey, the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the District of New Jersey, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.

News & Publications

February 28, 2012
Newsletters
December 3, 2011
Firm News
November 22, 2011
Firm News
November 15, 2011
Firm News
November 2, 2011
Firm News
July 6, 2011
Firm News
March 3, 2011
Firm News
February 5, 2011
Firm News
November 18, 2010
Firm News
October 2010
Firm News
September 17, 2010
Firm News
August 30, 2010
Firm News
August 2010
Newsletters
May 2010
Newsletters
April 12, 2010
Firm News
April 2010
Newsletters
March 5, 2010
Advisories
2010
Articles
January 28, 2010
Firm News
January 7, 2010
Advisories
December 2009
Newsletters
July 23, 2009
Articles
July 13, 2009
Advisories
July 2, 2009
Firm News
June 19, 2009
Advisories
May 20, 2009
Advisories
May 20, 2009
Firm News
May 4, 2009
Advisories
April 16, 2009
Advisories
March 26, 2009
Advisories
March 18, 2009
Advisories
March 3, 2009
Advisories
February 26, 2009
Advisories
February 12, 2009
Advisories
February 10, 2009
Advisories
January 27, 2009
Advisories
October 15, 2008
Firm News
June 12, 2008
Firm News
More

Events

July 28, 2011
Presented by ALI-ABA
Santa Fe, New Mexico
June 17, 2010
Presented by the New York State Society of CPAs
New York, New York
May 13, 2010
New York, New York
May 12, 2010
Presented by RegentAtlantic Capital, LLC
New York, New York
February 25, 2009
New York, New York

Background

Education

  • J.D., Cornell Law School, 1976
  • B.S., Cornell University, 1972

Bar Admissions

  • New Jersey, 1986
  • New York, 1977

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
  • U.S. Supreme Court