Michael Bergmann

Michael is a partner in Cooley’s compensation and benefits practice group. Michael counsels clients on executive compensation, employee benefits and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) matters. He devotes a significant portion of his practice to advising major public corporations and private companies on executive compensation and employee benefit arrangements in the context of mergers and acquisitions and other transformative business transactions.

Michael has nearly three decades of experience in a wide range of executive compensation and benefits matters. In particular, he has extensive experience with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules governing compensation disclosure and tax rules applicable to executive compensation. He regularly advises small and large public and private companies and individual senior executives on adopting and revising employment, severance, and cash and equity incentive compensation agreements and arrangements. He also counsels clients on the rules governing tax-qualified retirement vehicles, taxation of employee welfare benefits and application of ERISA to the administration of such arrangements and their assets.

The Best Lawyers in America recognizes Michael as a leading lawyer.