Alvarez & Marsal Tax (A&M Tax), an affiliate of global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has appointed Michael Nissan as a senior advisor within its compensation and benefits practice. Nissan’s hire expands A&M’s M&A offering to structure bespoke management compensation plans for private equity (PE) firms and their portfolio companies.
Nissan joins A&M Tax after an illustrious 40-year legal career at Weil, Gotshal & Manges. He most recently led Weil’s Private Equity Executive Compensation & Benefits practice. Combining his extensive expertise in using profits interests to compensate senior management and advising private equity firms on the economic terms of partnership and LLC arrangements, Nissan will support PE firms and their portfolio companies to maximize deal value. He works on complex transactions for both sellers and buyers, including designing multiple jurisdiction management equity incentive plans and structuring waterfall terms and provisions.
“Clients count on A&M’s global transaction tax advisory practice and our established brand advising on tax matters across the deal lifecycle,” Ernesto “Ernie” Perez, global practice leader of A&M Tax, said. “Expanding our compensation and benefits capabilities with a nationally recognized leading lawyer demonstrates our continuous efforts to address PE firms and their portfolio companies’ evolving needs with top tier talent. Specifically, Michael’s appointment further strengthens collaborative opportunities with law firms and legal professionals.”
“A&M’s results-driven mindset, freedom from audit conflicts and entrepreneurial culture provide the backbone for expanding its compensation and benefits offering,” Nissan said. “By leveraging my extensive background in tax law and compensation and benefits, we are uniquely positioned to navigate the complexities of tax implications for compensation strategies within private equity.”
Nissan taught private investment funds and private equity and venture capital investing at Columbia Law School as a lecturer in law. He was recognized as a leading lawyer for employee benefits and executive compensation in New York by Chambers USA and by Legal 500, Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers. Additionally, Nissan was the founding chairman of the Private Investment Fund Forum.
