Zoila E. Davis

Ms. Davis is a Shareholder at Davis Law Group. She practices in the field of employment, employee benefits and executive compensation law.

Ms. Davis counsels clients with respect to the tax, securities, corporate governance, stock exchange, ERISA and other implications affecting executive compensation arrangements. She regularly provides advice regarding equity arrangements (such as stock options, restricted stock, RSUs and phantom stock), employment agreements, change-in-control agreements and all other types of executive compensation (including incentive arrangements, SERPs, deferred compensation and “409A” and “162(m)” compliant plans). With respect to these issues, she advises companies and senior executives in numerous industries.

Ms. Davis also advises clients on compliance with ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, and other laws affecting employee benefit plans, as well as plan design, administration, termination, fiduciary duty issues, prohibited transactions, qualification requirements, and other matters concerning pension, profit-sharing, employee stock ownership, 401 (k), and other types of plans.

Ms. Davis counsels clients on benefits and compensation matters arising in all types of corporate transactions, including mergers & acquisitions, restructurings, debt and equity offerings. In numerous transactions, she has addressed issues concerning the treatment of stock options and other equity awards, change-in-control and “golden parachute” tax issues and welfare liabilities, severance obligations and COBRA.

Ms. Davis works with corporate and real estate lawyers in structuring and maintaining investment funds that include participation by pension plans. Through her work in the investment fund area she has obtained substantial experience in applying the rules provided under the “plan asset” regulations, including the operation of venture capital operating companies and real estate operating companies. She advises clients on both avoiding ERISA “plan asset” status and operating an investment fund in accordance with ERISA.

Ms. Davis began her legal career at Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP in Palo Alto, California, where she practiced in the employee benefits group from 1999 to 2000. In 2000, Ms. Davis joined Irell & Manella LLP where she was a member of the tax and employee benefits group until 2005 when she joined the employee benefits and executive compensation group of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Most recently, Ms. Davis was Special Counsel at Irell & Manella, LLP.

Ms. Davis is the Co-Chair of the Business Law Section of the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles. Ms. Davis is also the Co-Chair of the Employee Benefits Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.