SILICON VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL
SILICON VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL
APRIL 8, 2016
SILICON VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL Christine McCarthy Partner | Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
LESLIE GRIFFY Contributor
cused (ultimately exclusively) on executive and equity compensation matters.
Christine McCarthy helps define the way Silicon Valley rewards and recruits top talent. As an executive compensation partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, McCarthy advises firms on that keystone of tech compensation – stock options and equity. She’s devised plans that extend the window to sell vested options and more. She also helps companies plan for large mergers and acquisitions. McCarthy works with large private and public companies, including eHarmony, Sallie Mae, Sodastream, Cisco Systems, Facebook and more. Her leadership in compensation doesn’t stop at the office. McCarthy has acted as general counsel and secretary for the American Coalition of Stock Plan Administrators, a trade organization, and is on the advisory board of EASi. She is also a member of the Silicon Valley chapter of Global Equity Organization, an international nonprofit network of equity compensation professionals.
Your best advice for others: Have faith and believe in yourself (if you don’t, others won’t) and be willing to speak up and take a stand for what you believe in. What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? My kids … they need breakfast. Guilty pleasure: Spending time with my kids Your favorite gadget: My iPhone (not exactly a gadget but it is the most important piece of technology in my life) The number of years you have been in your line of work: 19
whom are based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Employees: 2,200 Where were you born? Concord, Massachusetts
Residence: Palo Alto
What would you like to accomplish in the next year? Working with legislators and regulators to rationalize and improve certain rules that impact the equity compensation programs offered by private companies. If you weren’t doing what you do now, what would it be? Probably a ski coach or working somewhere within the ski industry.
What was your first job? Nanny Education: New York University School of Law, Boston University School of Law, Cornell University
Growing up, you wanted to be: A member of the U.S. Ski Team.
Job description: McCarthy is an executive compensation partner in the Technology Companies Group of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and is based in Menlo Park. In this position, McCarthy takes a leading role in advising the firms’ clients on all matters related to executive and equity compensation, with a focus and expertise on working with late-stage technology companies, many of
Career path: I have spent all 19 years of my career working as an attorney at a law firm specializing in compensation and benefits. Early in my career my practice had a wider focus, including executive and equity compensation, qualified plan and health and welfare plan work. However, being based in Silicon Valley for the vast majority of my career, my practice naturally evolved and fo-
This article appeared in the online edition of the Silicon Valley Business Journal on April 8, 2016. It has been reprinted by the Silicon Valley Business Journal and further reproduction by any other party is strictly prohibited. Copyright ©2016 Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, 125 South Market Street, Suite 1100, San Jose CA 95113
APRIL 8, 2016
SILICON VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL Christine McCarthy Partner | Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
LESLIE GRIFFY Contributor
cused (ultimately exclusively) on executive and equity compensation matters.
Christine McCarthy helps define the way Silicon Valley rewards and recruits top talent. As an executive compensation partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, McCarthy advises firms on that keystone of tech compensation – stock options and equity. She’s devised plans that extend the window to sell vested options and more. She also helps companies plan for large mergers and acquisitions. McCarthy works with large private and public companies, including eHarmony, Sallie Mae, Sodastream, Cisco Systems, Facebook and more. Her leadership in compensation doesn’t stop at the office. McCarthy has acted as general counsel and secretary for the American Coalition of Stock Plan Administrators, a trade organization, and is on the advisory board of EASi. She is also a member of the Silicon Valley chapter of Global Equity Organization, an international nonprofit network of equity compensation professionals.
Your best advice for others: Have faith and believe in yourself (if you don’t, others won’t) and be willing to speak up and take a stand for what you believe in. What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? My kids … they need breakfast. Guilty pleasure: Spending time with my kids Your favorite gadget: My iPhone (not exactly a gadget but it is the most important piece of technology in my life) The number of years you have been in your line of work: 19
whom are based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Employees: 2,200 Where were you born? Concord, Massachusetts
Residence: Palo Alto
What would you like to accomplish in the next year? Working with legislators and regulators to rationalize and improve certain rules that impact the equity compensation programs offered by private companies. If you weren’t doing what you do now, what would it be? Probably a ski coach or working somewhere within the ski industry.
What was your first job? Nanny Education: New York University School of Law, Boston University School of Law, Cornell University
Growing up, you wanted to be: A member of the U.S. Ski Team.
Job description: McCarthy is an executive compensation partner in the Technology Companies Group of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and is based in Menlo Park. In this position, McCarthy takes a leading role in advising the firms’ clients on all matters related to executive and equity compensation, with a focus and expertise on working with late-stage technology companies, many of
Career path: I have spent all 19 years of my career working as an attorney at a law firm specializing in compensation and benefits. Early in my career my practice had a wider focus, including executive and equity compensation, qualified plan and health and welfare plan work. However, being based in Silicon Valley for the vast majority of my career, my practice naturally evolved and fo-
This article appeared in the online edition of the Silicon Valley Business Journal on April 8, 2016. It has been reprinted by the Silicon Valley Business Journal and further reproduction by any other party is strictly prohibited. Copyright ©2016 Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, 125 South Market Street, Suite 1100, San Jose CA 95113
