Barbara Klementz

Practice Areas

Barbara Klementz is the chair of Baker McKenzie’s North American Compensation Practice. She has practiced in the area of global equity and executive compensation for over 20 years. Barbara has authored several articles on global equity issues for the BNA Executive Compensation Journal, Journal of Corporate Taxation and San Francisco and Los Angeles Daily Journal, among others, and she is the author of a blog on global equity related topics called the Global Equity Equation. She is also a frequent speaker on a variety of global equity topics. Barbara is a Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer for 2024 and recognized as a ranked practitioner by Chambers USA. Chambers states that she "consistently delivers top-notch assistance and work product, and is a true expert in the field." Barbara is admitted to private practice in California and Düsseldorf, Germany.

Barbara focuses her practice on global equity compensation programs, executive compensation and employee benefits. She regularly advises multinational companies on implementing their equity compensation and other incentive programs worldwide – particularly as it relates to tax and securities law matters and exchange control regulations. Barbara also frequently advises on the treatment of such programs in corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs and divestitures, as well as on the tax treatment of cross-border employees participating in such programs.

Professional Memberships

• Global Equity Organization - Board of Directors

• National Association of Stock Plan Professionals

• State Bar of California

• San Francisco Bar Association

• Dusseldorf Bar

Publications

• The Global Equity Equation

• Co-author, "10 Best Practices for Granting Global Equity Awards." Baker McKenzie Employer Report, May 2024

• Author, "A Cautionary Tale: US Estate Tax May be Due on Equity Awards/Shares Held by Non-US Residents." Baker McKenzie Employer Report, January 2024

• Author, "The Case for Not Mentioning Equity Awards in Offer Letters." Baker McKenzie Employer Report, October 2023

• Author, "How To Structure Employee Stock Options In Israel," Law360, 3 July 2018

• Author, "China SAFE Requirements for Equity-Based Awards," Baker & McKenzie LLP, October 2016

• Author, "What To Do When Your Board Goes Global," ABA Business Tax Quarterly, August 2016

Education

Languages Spoken

English, German, French

Expert in these Jurisdictions

USA, Global