Barack Ferrazzano

Chris is an executive compensation and employee benefits attorney who helps companies and private equity sponsors navigate the people side of complex transactions, bringing a rare blend of Big Law precision and Big Four consulting experience to every deal.

Chris focuses his practice on executive compensation and employee benefits matters, with deep experience advising public companies and private equity sponsors on transactions and ongoing governance. On the transactional side, Chris conducts HR and benefits due diligence across the deal lifecycle; reviews and marks up purchase agreements, disclosure schedules, and transaction-related compensation arrangements; and identifies and resolves human capital issues from sign to close. He also supports the design and implementation of long-term incentive programs, drafting equity incentive plans, award agreements, and board and stockholder consents.

Beyond transactions, Chris advises clients on a wide range of compensation and benefits matters, including benefits issues arising from employee separations, compliance considerations for compensation and benefit plans, and risk assessments in connection with proposed benefit plan changes. Chris also leverages AI-enabled legal research and diligence tools to enhance efficiency and deliver added value to clients.

Before joining Barack Ferrazzano, Chris was an Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits associate at Ropes & Gray, where he advised public companies and private equity sponsors on executive compensation and employee benefits matters in connection with transactions, including HR due diligence, transaction document review, and incentive plan design and implementation. Prior to that, Chris spent three years as a consultant in Ernst & Young’s People Advisory Services practice, where he developed tax-compliant incentive compensation arrangements, collaborated with companies to ensure compliance with Section 409A, calculated potential parachute payments for “Disqualified Individuals” as defined under Code Section 280G, and performed human capital due diligence on proposed and closing transactions.

Education

• DePaul University College of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, Order of the Coif, 2021
• College of William and Mary, B.A., English and Theatre, 2005

Practice Area(s)

• Compensation & Benefits
• Financial Institutions