ARTICLE
15 November 2025
HOW AN EMPLOYEE SHARE SCHEME FUELS GROWTH FOR TECH STARTUP
External News

RSM

Private and pre-IPO companies
All plan types
Australia

Australian tech startups can use Employee Share Schemes (ESS) to attract and retain skilled talent by offering employees equity that aligns their interests with the company’s growth, especially when cash is tight. The ESS startup concessional regime makes this tax-effective by taxing employees only at a liquidity event and allowing shares to be offered at a discount, giving employees real ownership and potential upside. Eligible companies and employees must meet specific criteria, and when set up correctly, ESS can turn staff into true partners in growth, helping startups move from early-stage survival to long-term success.

ARTICLE
8 December 2025
SHARES IN MOTION- DEAL DELIBERATIONS
External News

CMS

Private and pre-IPO companies
All plan types
UK and Channel Islands

Company sales typically trigger employee share awards, creating complexity across different plan types, tax treatments, and jurisdictions, so early planning is essential to avoid disrupting the transaction. Clear, timely communication with employees about how the sale affects their awards, timing, consideration, and tax implications is critical to maintaining engagement and ensuring a smooth transition. Global and regulatory nuances—especially for tax-advantaged plans and cross-border workforces—make structured, well-supported communication and advice key to successful exits.

8.6 Navigating Growth: Innovative Equity Strategies for Agile Private Companies

This interactive session dives into innovative equity compensation strategies for private and early-stage companies navigating rapid growth, market volatility, and evolving regulatory demands. Using real-world case studies, participants will explore practical solutions for designing high-impact equity programs that align with strategic goals while staying cost-efficient and operationally manageable.

Topics include creating effective equity purchase and performance share plans on limited budgets, leveraging data-driven tools such as 90-day VWAP and ESG-linked plans, managing liquidity and cap tables through growth to IPO, and optimizing operational efficiency with HRIS platforms and automation. 

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Learn how to create equity purchase and performance share plans that align with company goals, ESG targets, and growth objectives, even on limited budgets.
  • Discover how to leverage HRIS platforms, third-party administrators, and automated processes to streamline plan administration and minimize complexity.
  • Gain practical insights into navigating liquidity events, cap tables, carve-outs, and employee engagement while scaling plans from early-stage to IPO or group-wide programs.
Speaker/Author

Adva Lewitte, ShareForce (UK)
Tzvika Bernstein, IBI Captial (IS)
Michelle Tomasetti, FGE, Infinite Equity (US)
 

Event date
Thursday, 23 Apr 2026, 10:35 - 11:25
Country
Breakout series
Location
401
Field of Study
Finance
Level
O

8.3 Supporting Executives: Bridging Stock Plans and Private Wealth

Executives face complex challenges in managing equity compensation, including navigating 10b5-1 plans, Rule 144, blackout windows, and liquidity planning. This session explores how plan administrators can leverage frameworks and best practices used by private wealth advisors to support executives holistically. Lucid Motors will share real-life experiences, highlighting practical applications of these strategies in a corporate setting. Participants will gain insights on aligning administrative operations with executive needs, optimizing equity as part of overall wealth, and supporting transitions, succession planning, and legacy considerations.

KEY LEARNINGS:

  • Understanding 10b5-1 plans, Rule 144, and blackout windows, and how to support executives effectively.
  • Leveraging private wealth management tools to align equity administration with executive goals.
  • Strategies for managing executive equity from grant through succession, including liquidity and legacy planning.
Speaker/Author

Michael McKenzie, UBS (US)
Oscar Contreras, Lucid Motors (US)

Event date
Thursday, 23 Apr 2026, 10:35 - 11:25
Country
Breakout series
Location
JW Grand Salon 3
Field of Study
Finance
Level
I

6.2 Navigating Executive Trading: Insights on Readiness, SEC Compliance and Market Trends

Whether your company is preparing for an IPO, recently went public, or has been public for some time, managing liquidity solutions and executive stock positions is critical. This session provides actionable guidance on navigating liquidity events across all stages of a company’s public journey.

Attendees will gain insights from the latest Morgan Stanley 10b5-1 Survey Report, market trends, and recent SEC rule changes. The session will cover practical strategies such as Rule 144 trades, 10b5-1 plans, and managing RSU releases, while addressing both capital considerations and potential market impacts. Participants will also learn how pending SEC changes, including possible semi-annual reporting, may influence executive liquidity planning.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Understand strategies to manage executive stock positions effectively, from IPO to mature public company stages.
  • Learn how Rule 144 trades, 10b5-1 plans, and RSU release management can support liquidity while staying compliant with SEC rules.
  • Gain insights into current market dynamics, recent SEC updates, and pending rules that impact executive stock planning.
Speaker/Author

Josh Shek, Morgan Stanley at Work (US)
Mike Andresino, ArentFox Schiff LLP (US)
Matt Connor, FGE, Lucid Motors (US)
Erika Rivera, Morgan Stanley at Work (US)

Event date
Wednesday, 22 Apr 2026, 16:00 - 17:00
Country
Breakout series
Location
JW Grand Salon 2
Field of Study
Finance
Level
I

3.4 Global Lessons Learned: Equity Plan Implementation After IPO

Transitioning to a public company is a defining moment—particularly when equity programs must scale quickly across multiple countries. For newly public organizations, the real challenge begins after the bell rings: building equity plans that meet heightened governance expectations while supporting a growing, global workforce.
 

Drawing on lessons learned from recent IPOs, this session explores critical post-IPO considerations including Day 1 trading readiness for officers and executive leadership roles (ELRs), scalable equity operations, and the realities of managing cross-border tax, compliance, and award administration. Through real-world examples, speakers will share how companies have balanced control and flexibility—creating equity programs that are resilient, compliant, and built for international growth.
 

KEY LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

  • Understand post-IPO equity requirements, including trading readiness for officers and executives.
  • Learn how to build equity processes that adapt to regional expansion, operational growth, and evolving governance needs.
  • Gain practical strategies for handling tax withholding, award modifications, and local compliance across jurisdictions.
Speaker/Author

Sara Shoaf, Charles Schwab (US)
Randy Murphy, Instacart (US)
Rees Franklin III, Affirm  (US)
Brooke Anderson, Charles Schwab  (US)

Event date
Wednesday, 22 Apr 2026, 10:45 - 11:45
Country
Breakout series
Location
JW Grand Salon 4
Field of Study
Specialized Knowledge
Level
O

2.2 From Private to Public: Inside the Equity Decisions That Shape IPO Readiness

IPO day may look glamorous from the outside, but equity teams know it’s equal parts celebration and controlled chaos. Behind the confetti is months (or years) of preparation, cross-functional coordination, and high-stakes decision-making that can define the success of a company’s transition to public life.

In this session, the panel will break down what really goes into IPO readiness—from building scalable equity processes and governance frameworks to avoiding the common missteps that catch even experienced teams off guard. Attendees will gain practical insights, real-world lessons learned, and actionable guidance to help their organizations navigate the road to going public with confidence (and fewer surprises).

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Identify the critical equity processes, controls, and data structures that must be in place well before the S-1 is filed.
  • Understand where equity teams most often stumble—from data integrity to cross-functional misalignment—and how to proactively mitigate those risks.
  • Learn practical frameworks for managing timelines, stakeholders, and last-minute challenges while keeping the equity function calm, credible, and compliant.
Speaker/Author

Aaron Rosser, Accelerated Equity Plans (US)
Brett Andersen, Cribl (US)
Amber Fullmer, Reddit (US)
Andrew Barrus, Procore (US)

Event date
Tuesday, 21 Apr 2026, 14:45 - 15:35
Country
Breakout series
Location
JW Grand Salon 2
Field of Study
Specialized Knowledge
Level
O
ARTICLE
27 August 2025
PISCES: A GAME-CHANGER FOR PRIVATE MARKET LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL FORMATION IN THE UK
External News

AI Invest

Private and pre-IPO companies
All plan types
UK and Channel Islands

The UK’s new Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System (PISCES), launched in 2025 under a five-year regulatory sandbox, creates a regulated platform for intermittent trading of private company shares, bridging the gap between private and public markets. It provides liquidity for employees and early investors, offers pension funds and institutions access to private equity in line with regulatory goals, and allows companies to control trading parameters while retaining capital structure flexibility. While PISCES enhances transparency and capital formation, it does not guarantee continuous liquidity or raise new capital, making due diligence and governance alignment critical for both investors and private firms.

ARTICLE
8 August 2025
EQUITY COMPENSATION FOR STARTUPS AND EARLY-STAGE EMPLOYEES
External News

Ann Arbor SPARK

Private and pre-IPO companies
All plan types
Global

Equity compensation is a key tool for startups to attract and retain talent while conserving cash, offering employees ownership stakes that align their incentives with the company’s long-term success. Common forms include restricted stock awards (RSAs) and stock options (ISOs and NSOs), each with different tax treatments, benefits, and risks. While equity can motivate employees and provide significant financial upside, it also introduces legal, tax, and administrative complexities, making careful plan design and professional guidance essential.

ARTICLE
12 June 2025
PISCES: UNLOCKING LIQUIDITY FOR PRIVATE COMPANY EMPLOYEE SHARE SCHEMES
External News

Lewis Silkin

Private and pre-IPO companies
All plan types
UK and Channel Islands

The UK government's new PISCES trading platform introduces regulated, periodic opportunities for shareholders in private companies to sell shares, addressing long-standing liquidity challenges for employees and early investors. Legislative changes ensure that participation in PISCES will not jeopardize the tax-advantaged status of EMI and CSOP options, removing a key barrier to broader employee share ownership. While the platform holds promise, its success will depend on forthcoming FCA rules and how companies balance legal, tax, and practical implications before opting in.