Author: Jamison Klang

Jamie is an associate in Dorsey’s Benefits and Compensation practice group. He advises clients on ERISA, tax, and related issues affecting qualified and non-qualified benefit plans as well as executive compensation arrangements. He assists clients in strategically drafting stock incentive plans and all related SEC disclosures. He devotes a substantial portion of his practice to advising both public and private companies on compensation and benefits issues that arise in transactions.

Unexpected Risks of Early Exercise Incentive Stock Options

Canadian companies and their outside counsel occasionally ask about the ability to grant early exercise incentive stock options (“ISOs”) to limit the impact of the U.S. alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) to their U.S. employees. However, due to fairly counterintuitive U.S. federal tax regulations, structuring options in this manner may expose optionees to negative tax consequences...