Don is a partner in the Firm's Compensation & Employment Group (having served as Chairman of the Group from 2004-2019), concentrating his practice in executive compensation and employee benefits. Don offers our clients more than 30 years of experience dealing with complex compensation matters.
Don represents entities, individuals and compensation committees in all stages of the employment process, from negotiating and drafting employment arrangements to separation settlements. Don advises clients on the design and establishment of various types of compensation programs, such as cash and equity based incentive plans (stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock units, restricted stock, etc.) and related insider trading (Section 16) issues, employee stock purchase plans, phantom stock plans, retention plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans and related rabbi and secular trusts, director compensation programs and change-in-control and severance agreements and plans.
Don has extensive experience providing guidance with CEO succession planning. In advising employers on compensation related matters, Don’s practice also includes protecting company interests with confidentiality and non-competition arrangements and other restrictive covenants.
Don serves on the Firm’s Finance Committee and Pension Committee. He is a frequent speaker on issues of director and executive compensation with a focus on the financial services industry.
Representative Experience
Represented SBC, Incorporated, the parent company for Countryside Bank, in connection with the acquisition by Wintrust Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: WTFC).
Represented First Busey Corporation (Nasdaq: BUSE), in connection with its acquisition of The Banc Ed Corp.
Representation of First Busey Corporation (Nasdaq: BUSE) in connection with its acquisition of First Community Financial Partners, Inc. (Nasdaq: FCFP).
Representation of First Busey Corporation (Nasdaq: BUSE) in connection with its acquisition of Mid Illinois Bancorp Inc.
Represented First Defiance Financial Corp. (“First Defiance”) (Nasdaq: FDEF) in connection with its definitive merger agreement in which United Community Financial Corp. (“United Community”) (Nasdaq: UCFC), will merge into First Defiance in a stock-for-stock transaction.
Represented Bankmanagers Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Park Bank, in connection with its acquisition by First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. (“First Midwest”) (Nasdaq: FMBI).
Represented Guaranty Federal Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: GFED) in connection with the merger with Hometown Bancshares, Inc.
Represented ATBancorp in connection with the acquisition by MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: MOFG).
Represented USAmeriBancorp, Inc. (OTC Pink: USAB), in connection with its merger with Valley National Bancorp (NYSE: VLY).
Activities & Honors
- Selected, The Best Lawyers in America© (2017-2023)
- Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- Selected, Illinois Super Lawyers (2013-2015, 2019-2023)
- Member, American Bar Association, Tax Section, Executive Compensation Subcommittee
- Member, National Association of Stock Plan Professionals
Speaking Engagements & Presentations
Articles & Publications
News
Education
University of Kansas School of Law, J.D., 1986
University of Illinois - Urbana, B.A., Dean's List, 1983
Bar & Court Admissions
- State of Illinois
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