
Jennifer Stobie Schumacher focuses her practice on executive and equity compensation, qualified retirement plans, and benefit and compensation issues arising in mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, and other business transactions. Ms. Schumacher regularly advises clients on compensation and benefit issues in mergers and acquisitions. She has assisted large public corporations with all benefit and executive compensation issues arising in connection with the spin-off of certain business segments. She has also represented management teams of several large public companies in negotiating continuing employment arrangements and severance arrangements in connection with the acquisition of their companies by other large public companies.
Ms. Schumacher regularly assists in the design and implementation of sophisticated executive compensation and deferral programs, equity compensation arrangements, and change in control protections for public, private, and tax-exempt companies of all sizes. She assists clients with structuring of severance plans and agreements, both for individuals and in connection with larger reductions in force.
Ms. Schumacher was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law in 2019 and the 11 years immediately preceding. She was named a Georgia “Super Lawyer” in 2018 and the seven years immediately preceding and a Georgia “Rising Star” in 2008 and 2010 for Employee Benefits/ERISA Law by Super Lawyers magazine. Ms. Schumacher is AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell.*
*CV, BV, and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedure’s standards and policies.
Experience:
- Represented Equifax Inc. in its $1.4 billion acquisition of publicly held TALX corporation for a combination of stock and cash. The transaction was structured as a tax-free reorganization with a unique share buy back structure to prevent share dilution.
- Represented CRH plc, the international building materials group, in its acquisition of Ash Grove Cement Company, a leading U.S. cement manufacturer for $3.5 billion.
- Advised AT&T Inc. with respect to executive compensation and benefit plan issues in its acquisition of AppNexus, a technology company operating a leading global advertising marketplace that provides enterprise products for digital advertising for publishers, agencies and marketers.
- Advised AT&T Inc. with respect to executive compensation and benefit plan issues in its acquisition of AlienVault, an innovative technology and security company.
- Represented CRH plc, the international building materials group, in its disposition of its Americas Distribution division to Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. for a total consideration of $2.63 billion in cash.
- p>Advised on the executive compensation and employee benefit aspects of the merger of two office supply companies, a transformational event in the office supply business. After completion of the merger, assisted in consolidating the employee benefit plans and other aspects of the post-merger employee benefits transition.
- Advised Acuity Brands Inc., one of the world’s leading providers of lighting fixtures, with respect to executive compensation and employee benefit matters in spin off of Zep Inc.
- Represented Equifax Inc., one of the United States’ largest credit reporting agencies, in all aspects of benefit plans and executive compensation plans related to the $2 billion tax-free spin-off of its payment services business into a new public company, Certegy Inc.
- Represented Certegy Inc., a major publicly held credit card and check verification company, in its $4.5 billion merger with Fidelity National Information Services Inc. and related special dividend to shareholders. The firm also advised the company on issues regarding executive compensation and employee benefits matters relating to the merger.
Education:
- Emory University, J.D. (1994) with distinction, Order of the Coif
- Rice University, B.A., Economics and Managerial Studies (1991) magna cum laude
Admissions:
- Georgia (1994)
Cost
Rate : $$$