Los Angeles, CA. Global law firm Nixon Peabody is pleased to announce that Jean Y. Yu has joined the firm’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team as counsel, based in the Los Angeles office.
Jean’s addition continues Nixon Peabody’s Corporate practice expansion, particularly on the West Coast. In recent months, partner Michael Lawhead, counsel Farrah Usmani, and counsel Richard Shamos also joined the firm’s Corporate practice in Los Angeles.
Jean focuses her practice on employee benefits, including ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act), multi-employer, collective bargaining, and executive compensation matters. She advises employers on negotiations with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Labor (DOL) in audits, investigations, other complex compliance issues, and ERISA fiduciary and prohibited transaction issues. Jean often counsels employers on pension plan–related issues, administers multi-employer pension funds, and works with clients to negotiate and implement bargaining agreements and multi-employer plans and trusts.
“Jean is sought out by clients for her nuanced ability to simplify the complicated employee benefits and ERISA plan decision-making by recommending straightforward, practical solutions,” said Eric Paley, Nixon Peabody partner and leader of the firm’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team. “We are excited to welcome her to our growing West Coast team, where she brings high-demand and complementary experience that will help our clients maintain a competitive edge in the marketplace.”
In her executive compensation work, Jean helps clients negotiate employment agreements and equity compensation arrangements for high-level executives at public and private companies across the Fortune 100 and myriad industries, including the entertainment industry. She also advises public personalities, influencers, and high-net-worth individuals on employment, compensation, and tax matters in connection with their business activities.
“I have had the pleasure of working with Jean previously, and I know she will be a great asset to our colleagues and our clients in key industries that help drive the Southern California economy,” said Justin X. Thompson, Nixon Peabody’s Los Angeles office managing partner.
Jean earned her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law and her LL.M. in Taxation from Georgetown University Law. She received her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.
