The Stock Options Task Force was established by White & Case to help clients address a broad range of stock option backdating issues and to assist clients who have concerns about their equity compensation policies or are targeted for investigations. Our team is thoroughly immersed in all of the latest legal and business developments, and is committed to helping clients resolve both existing and potential problems swiftly, efficiently and with minimal negative impact.

The Stock Options Task Force employs a multi-disciplinary, cross-practice approach to all areas of potential concern, since the ramifications of backdating can include probes by the US Department of Justice, the SEC and the IRS, government enforcement actions, tax liabilities and shareholder lawsuits. Even proposed merger deals can be affected, as stock prices plunge for companies with backdating problems. With lawyers from our capital markets/securities, corporate, corporate defense and litigation, executive compensation and employee benefits, employment law, global equity-based compensation, insurance, litigation, mergers and acquisitions and tax practices, the group provides clients with full-service legal guidance for all their needs.

Key Information for Clients on Stock Options

• Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Backdating but Weren't Sure What to Ask
  Kenneth A. Raskin
  Bloomberg Corporate Law Journal
  Winter 2007
  
  
• Stock Option Backdating – Crossing the Line
  Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha
  California Litigation Report
  February 2007
  
  
• Q&A: Lessons from the Stock Options Scandals
  A Q&A with White & Case's Owen C. Pell and Kenneth A. Raskin
  November 1, 2006
  
  
• Options Backdating: Plenty to Worry About
  Kenneth A. Raskin
  The Financial Executive
  October 2006
  

Stock Options in the News: Task Force Analyses

• Backdating Study Gives Lawsuits New Ammo
  Compliance Week
  September 19, 2006
  
  
• Tax Enforcement: IRS Audits Companies, Executives Over Backdating of Stock Options
  BNA Daily Tax Report
  July 31, 2006
  
  
• Backdating Probes Cause Boom In Late Filings
  Compliance Week
  August 29, 2006
  
  
• Charges Expected on Options
  The New York Times
  August 4, 2006
  

Members of the White & Case Stock Options Task Force

• Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha
  Partner
  Litigation, Los Angeles
  
  
• Christopher M. Curran
  Partner
  Litigation, Washington, DC
  
  
• Kevin Keogh
  Partner
  Capital Markets/Securities, Mergers and Acquisitions, New York
  
  
• Glenn Kurtz
  Partner
  Litigation, Financial Restructuring and Insolvency, New York
  
  
• John Lillis
  Partner
  Corporate, Tax, New York
  
  
• Owen S. Pell
  Partner
  Litigation and Intellectual Property, New York
  
  
• Gregory Pryor
  Partner
  Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity, New York
  
  
• Kenneth A. Raskin
  Partner
  Executive Compensation and Benefits, New York
  
  
• William Wynne, Jr.
  Partner
  Capital Markets/Securities, Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity, New York
  

White & Case Associated Practices

• Capital Markets/Securities
  
  
• Corporate
  
  
• Corporate Defense and Special Litigation
  
  
• Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits
  
  
• Global Equity Based Compensation
  
  
• Insurance
  
  
• Labor, Employment and Immigration Law
  
  
• Litigation
  
  
• Mergers and Acquisitions 
  
  
• Tax