PALO ALTO, Calif.– Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, announced today that Brandon Gantus has rejoined the firm as a partner and co-leader of the employee benefits and compensation practice. Based in San Francisco, Gantus focuses on representing public and private companies on benefits and compensation matters. He has particular experience counseling technology and life sciences companies on benefits and compensation aspects of mergers and acquisitions and capital markets transactions, including many high-profile deals in recent years.
“While technology and life sciences companies have always relied on executive compensation and benefits to attract and retain top talent, ongoing shifts in the business and regulatory landscape escalate the need for experienced legal counsel,” said Doug Clark, managing partner at Wilson Sonsini. “Brandon has shown his ability to represent even the most sophisticated companies in the most demanding of situations, including major M&A and capital markets deals. We’re pleased to welcome him back to the firm.”
Gantus has been instrumental in advising on the employee benefits and compensation components of several significant M&A transactions in recent years. These include Twitter in its acquisition by Elon Musk, DoorDash in its acquisition of Wolt Enterprises, Pluralsight in its acquisition by Vista Equity Partners, Talend in its acquisition by Thoma Bravo, CA Technologies in its acquisition by Broadcom, and AppDynamics in its acquisition by Cisco Systems. Additionally, he has represented Google, Salesforce, GoDaddy, and Lumentum in significant acquisitions.
Gantus also has played a key role in a number of notable capital markets transactions, including initial public offerings (IPOs) for DoorDash, Lyft, Dropbox, Twitter, Block (formerly Square), Samsara, Gigamon, GoDaddy, BlackLine, Pluralsight, Splunk, RingCentral, Talend, WageWorks, Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Revolve, Kinnate, Tenaya Therapeutics, ORIC Pharmaceuticals, Impinj, nLIGHT, Xactly, and Fusion-io and de-SPAC transactions involving Palladyne AI (formerly Sarcos Robotics), Solid Power, and Gogoro.
“Today’s largest and most complex transactions bring a host of significant and challenging executive compensation and benefits issues that require a unique and highly sophisticated skill set, which Brandon possesses,” said Sriram Krishnamurthy, partner and co-leader of the firm’s employee benefits and compensation practice. “His return strengthens our commitment to providing a market-leading offering, and I look forward to partnering with him to co-lead the firm’s active employee benefits and compensation practice.”
Gantus earned an LL.M. in taxation from Georgetown University Law Center in 2008, graduating with distinction and receiving the Employee Benefits Certificate; a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law in 2006; and a B.A. in political science from Boston College in 2001. He previously has been recognized as a Rising Star by Northern California Super Lawyers.
“Wilson Sonsini offers unparalleled experience and expertise in advising technology and life sciences companies,” said Gantus. “I am thrilled to be rejoining the firm and reuniting with former colleagues to help our innovative clients navigate their important compensation and governance issues. Collaboration and teamwork have been hallmarks of the firm since its inception and have contributed to the success of our employee benefits and compensation practice and the firm as a whole. I look forward to partnering with Sriram and other group members to apply these principles in servicing clients and further enhancing the firm’s status as a premier destination for compensation and benefits matters.”
Working closely with boards of directors and senior management on complex compensation and benefits issues, Wilson Sonsini’s nationally recognized employee benefits and compensation practice has deep experience in a wide range of matters. These include all facets of employee equity award programs, employment and consulting agreements, bonus programs, deferred compensation plans, severance and golden-parachute arrangements, fringe benefits, retirement and welfare plans, and related corporate governance issues.
