Overview
Yana Johnson is a nationwide authority with over 25 years of experience in executive compensation and employee benefits matters, who concentrates her practice on assisting the firm’s public company clients. She is pragmatic and business-minded, with a specific focus on equity compensation, governance, disclosure and succession issues. Yana has extensive experience working in the technology, life sciences, financial services, manufacturing, entertainment, energy, health care and construction industries.
Executive Compensation
Yana leads the firm’s executive compensation practice, and advises public companies and compensation committees on matters including executive compensation disclosures, pay for performance, and equity plan proposals; “say-on-pay” and engagement with institutional stockholders and proxy advisory firms; stock exchange listing standards; and corporate governance. She is fluent in relevant securities, employment and tax compliance issues related to executive compensation and benefits.
Yana has significant experience in helping clients in all stages of funding from start-ups to publicly traded registrants design equity-based plans and awards, long-term incentive compensation, change in control arrangements and non-qualified deferred compensation plans. Yana also negotiates complex employment and compensation arrangements on behalf of employers and senior executives.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Yana guides buyers and sellers, both domestic and international, through equity compensation, employee benefits and HR issues that arise in business transactions, including mergers, asset sales, spin-offs, financings and IPOs.
Employee Benefits
Yana regularly advises clients on issues related to broad-based compensation arrangements governed by ERISA, including 401(k), pension, early retirement, health, welfare, fringe benefit and severance plans.
Personal Interests
In her spare time, Yana enjoys horseback riding and crafting (and imbibing) unique cocktails.
Related Legal Services
Credentials
Bar Admissions
California
Court Admissions
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
Education
University of California, Hastings College of the Law
J.D. magna cum laude, Hastings Law Journal (articles editor) (1999)
University of California, Santa Cruz
B.A. in Economics (1995)
Insights & Events
Insights
Other Perspectives
- SEC Clawback: Stock Exchange Listing Requirements and Preparing for Compliance
Republished in The Corporate Governance Advisor, November/December 2023, Vol. 31, No. 6
Leadership & Community
Professional Associations
- Western Pension and Benefits Council, San Francisco Chapter, Program Committee Co-Chair (2020-21)
- Jewish Bar Association of San Francisco, Member (2018-present)
- Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (LGBTQI bar association) (1998-present)
Honors
- Chambers USA — California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrounds, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, 2023-25
- Best Lawyers® — Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, 2022-25
- Legal 500 USA Recognized Attorney, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, 2019-20