Narendra Acharya focuses his practice on matters relating to US and international employee benefits and executive compensation — including global stock plans and pensions, as well as matters pertaining to pensions, executive compensation and employment issues in mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Acharya has particular expertise dealing with cross-border compensation issues, including issues raised in corporate reorganizations and inversion transactions. Mr. Acharya has been selected as a BTI Client Service All Star, which recognizes "innovative attorneys who are leveraging market changes to stand out with corporate counsel and deliver superior client service."

Mr. Acharya assists US and non-US companies – both publicly traded and private – in the design and implementation of employee stock plans. He has extensive experience advising clients on income tax, social security, payroll withholding and reporting, local corporate tax deduction, employment law, securities and other regulatory issues applicable to equity awards in numerous jurisdictions. Mr. Acharya advises companies on the application of deferred compensation rules under Code Sections 409A and 457A and the impact of recently enacted FATCA requirements on compensation plans and participants, as well as a broad range of tax and compensation issues related to international mobile employees.

Eaton is a seasoned professional serving as the Director of Executive Compensation & Equity at Seagate. With more than ten years of dedicated experience in executive compensation and equity administration, Eaton has honed her expertise in this specialized field. She is recognized for her proficiency in data analytics, a skill she leverages to propel HR practices into the realm of data-driven decision-making.

Eaton holds a Master’s degree in Data Analytics, augmenting her educational background with an MBA and a CPA license. Her academic achievements reflect her commitment to staying abreast of industry trends and equipping herself with the necessary tools to excel in her role.

Sinead Kelly is a partner in Baker McKenzie’s Compensation practice. Sinead focuses her practice on executive compensation and global equity, advising on the design, administration, governance and implementation of executive and director compensation arrangements, including equity and incentive plans, deferred compensation plans, severance and employment agreements, change in control plans, bonus plans, and director compensation programs. Sinead also frequently speaks and publishes on compensation-related topics and is a contributing author to Lexis Practice Advisor and Wolters Kluwer's "Practical Guide to SEC Proxy and Compensation Rules," and a founder of the Firm's Compensation Connection blog. She is a member of the Advisory Board of the Certified Equity Professionals Institute (CEPI) of Santa Clara University and serves on the Firm's International Benefits Committee. Sinead has been recognized by Chambers USA for Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, where clients have described her as "extremely intelligent, responsive and solution-oriented." She is a Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer for 2024 and is ranked by Legal 500 as a "Leading Lawyer" for Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and Retirement Plan Design.

Pam Chernoff, CEP,  is a writer and editor who is a consultant in Aon Human Capital Solutions Communications Practice. Pam specializes in employee education, print communications, and video creation in the stock plan, benefits, and total rewards space. She is a co-author of The Stock Options Book, a textbook for the Certified Equity Professional exams. Before joining Aon, she was the Curriculum Coordinator for the Certified Equity Professional program at Santa Clara University’s Silicon Valley Executive Center. Prior to working at the CEPI, she was director of equity compensation projects at the National Center for Employee Ownership, where she managed the prep course for the CEP exams. Before starting in equity compensation, she spent 10 years in journalism, including a stint as copy desk chief for Pensions & Investments newspaper. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University.

Megan Hunt is the Director of Equity Administration at Samsara, where she oversees the company’s expanding equity programs. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Megan brings a broad range of expertise to her role. Before joining Samsara, she worked for both vendors, such as Charles Schwab, and issuers like Nordstrom, Inc., gaining valuable perspectives. Her background includes advising on equity administration best practices, developing processing solutions, and designing programs that adapt to the evolving demands of the equity landscape.

Paul J. Arens is a seasoned C-level executive based in Palo Alto, California, with extensive leadership experience across startup and established enterprises in both Europe and North America. With expertise in strategic planning, business development, and mergers and acquisitions, he has led organizations to significant growth. Arens has held leadership roles at Astrella, Computershare, and Monidee Group, among others. He holds master’s degrees in Business Management from Nijenrode Business University and Business Economics from Erasmus University. Fluent in English, Dutch, German, and French, Arens is also a fellow of the Global Equity Organization.

Nancy Kobs is the Sr. Director of Global Equity Programs at Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (“PANW”), where she oversees the global enablement, administration, taxation, and compliance of PANW’s equity programs, as well as the associated policies and programs, which include a complex deferred compensation plan. 

Nancy has been in the global equity field for nearly 16 years, including 6 years at Cisco Systems, Inc. and almost 7 years at Twitter, Inc. (RIP). Nancy’s expertise is in tackling challenges and coming up with innovative solutions to effectively grow and scale equity programs, while ensuring compliance.

Prior to working in the equity field, Nancy worked as a paralegal and project manager for multinational companies’ global expansion and M&A integration projects where she worked with a global network of attorneys and paralegals to structure and maintain subsidiaries and offices around the world. This work and Nancy’s expertise in building and reconfiguring compliant functions led her to join the global equity field at Cisco Systems.

Nancy is originally from Chile, where she earned her degree in Business Administration from the University of Santiago. She immigrated to the U.S. following the completion of her university studies, to follow the footsteps of her father who was a professor of math at UC Berkeley.

Robyn is a Partner at Infinite Equity, specializing in global equity compensation consulting for multinational employers. She has over 20 years of experience advising companies on all aspects of their equity compensation programs, including plan design and implementation, employee communications strategies, and administration efficiencies and optimization. Prior to joining Infinite Equity, Robyn held various leadership positions with Computershare, the Global Equity Organization (GEO), the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals (NASPP), and several San Diego based technology companies. Robyn is an active board member for the Certified Equity Professional Institute, a frequent speaker on equity compensation topics, and co-author of the book, “If I’d Only Known That.” Robyn has a Bachelor of Arts in English from San Diego State University, a Paralegal Certificate (with honors) from the ABA Paralegal Program at the University of San Diego, and is a Fellow of Global Equity (FGE) and a Certified Equity Professional (CEP). She is based in San Diego.

Annemarie Kalsbeek is a seasoned professional with extensive expertise in global mobility, immigration, equity, and payroll services. Currently serving as Vice President Pay Services, Global Mobility, and Immigration at S&P, Annemarie leads strategic initiatives to optimize payroll operations and facilitate seamless global mobility for employees across borders.

With a career spanning 30+ years in the industry, Annemarie has demonstrated a keen understanding of the complexities of international workforce management and compliance. Her leadership has been instrumental in developing innovative solutions to navigate regulatory landscapes and streamline payroll processes on a global scale.

Annemarie holds three master's degrees, including one in Leadership and an MBA from Capella University, and a Business and Payroll master’s from the University of Derby. Her academic background has equipped her with a strong foundation in business management, leadership principles, and specialized knowledge in payroll services.

Prior to her role at S&P, Annemarie held key positions in leading organizations, where she honed her skills in payroll management, compliance, and talent mobility. Her collaborative approach and commitment to excellence have earned her recognition as a trusted advisor and thought leader in the field.

Ms. Hackman is the Senior Director of Global Equity Programs at DoorDash base in San Franscisco, California and has more than 20 years of experience in equity compensation. 

Prior to joining DoorDash, she was the Director of Financial Wellbeing and Employee Investment Services at Amazon.com. In her role at Amazon, Ms. Hackman is responsible for Amazon’s global equity compensation and retirement/savings programs to over 400k employees in 49 countries. As the global leader, Ms. Hackman develops the administrative and educational strategy of all equity and savings plans worldwide, including adherence to corporate governance and policies, regulatory tax and legal compliance, technology development, and enhancing the employee experience through education, communication, and vendor management. Prior to joining Amazon, she led the strategy for Starbucks Coffee Company’s international stock plans and managed Expedia Inc.’s global stock plans. 

Ms. Hackman served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Global Equity Organization (GEO) from 2012-2015 and currently sits on GEO’s Issuer Advisory Council. She held various leadership positions at the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals (NASPP) Seattle Chapter (President, 2006-2012; Vice President Programs, 2004-2006). Ms. Hackman speaks regularly at many equity compensation events including GEO and NASPP, and a winner of the 2016 and 2014 Global Equity Organization award for “Best Use of Technology” at Amazon and 2008 award for â€œBest in Financial Education” at Starbucks Coffee Company.