“Sweat Equity” in Startups and Early-Stage Businesses (2015)
4.0 Credits: 2.0 Skills, 2.0 Areas of Professional Practice
Because early-stage companies often cannot afford to pay their workers in cash, a significant part of their workers’ compensation will consist of founders’ shares, restricted stock, options, warrants and other “equity” securities. Workers whose only compensation consists of stock or other securities are referred to as “sweat equity.”
If a company takes off and becomes wildly successful, “sweat equity” workers who sign up early can share in the exponential growth in the company’s value. But if the “sweat equity” compensation plan is not structured properly, both the company and its workers may face legal and tax consequences that may jeopardize the startup’s success.
This program focuses on the often complicated legal, tax, financial and ethical issues involved in compensating “sweat equity” participants in early-stage companies, including (in some cases) the company’s founders.
Program Topics
Introduction to Sweat Equity
Compensation Issues for the Startup Venture
Tax Issues for the Startup Venture
Employment Law Issues for the Startup Venture: Representing the “Sweat Equity” Worker in a Startup or Early-Stage Venture
Panel Discussion of Mock Letter of Intent
Program Chair
Cliff Ennico, Esq., Law Offices of Clifford R. Ennico, Fairfield, Connecticut
Faculty
Wendi Lazar, Esq., Outten and Golden LLP, New York City
Leo Parmegiani, CPA and Tax Partner, O’Connor Davies LLP, New York City
Thomas Riggs, Esq., O’Connor Davies LLP, New York City
Total Credits: 4.00 | Skills: 2.00, Areas of Professional Practice: 2.00
- June 4, 2015
- Online On-Demand
- VDX94
- 2.0
- 2.0
- 4.0

