K.C. concentrates his practice on executive compensation, employee benefits, and tax matters. He has significant experience advising public and private companies in acquisitions, mergers, initial public offerings, and other similar transactions on issues related to executive compensation, including issues related to excess parachute payments and deferred compensation under Code Sections 280G and 409A. In addition, he assists public company clients in all matters of compliance with SEC reporting obligations under the Securities and Exchange Acts related to director and executive compensation, including proxy and registration statements, annual and quarterly reports, and Section 16 reporting obligations.
K.C. regularly counsels clients in the design and implementation of employment agreements, equity and incentive compensation arrangements, and deferred compensation plans. He also has significant experience conducting comprehensive reviews of defined benefit pension, 401(k), ESOP, and health and welfare plans to ensure compliance with the Internal Revenue Code, ERISA, and the Affordable Care Act, as well as remediation of plan failures through Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor correction programs.
Prior to joining Barack Ferrazzano, K.C. worked in the national tax department of a big four accounting firm where he assisted clients with a wide range of compensation and tax related activities, including the review and examination of employee retirement, health and welfare, and executive compensation plans and agreements, through tax planning, compliance, and operational analyses.
Along with his compensation and tax practice, K.C. dedicates his time on a pro bono basis preparing wills and power of attorney documents for the Wills For Heroes Foundation, a program which provides essential legal documents free of charge to our nation’s first responders.
Representative Experience
Representation of Anchor Bancorp, Inc. in connection with its sale to Old National Bancorp (Nasdaq: ONB).
Represented Bank First Corporation (Nasdaq: BFC) ("Bank First") — the holding company of Bank First, N.A — in the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Tomah Bancshares, Inc. ("Tomah"), in an all-stock merger transaction.
Representation of Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: BWB) and its subsidiary Bridgewater Bank (HQ: Minnesota) in M&A, IPO, subordinated debt, and other transactions.
Represented First Busey Corporation (Nasdaq: BUSE), in connection with its definitive agreement to acquire Investors’ Security Trust Company.
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 BancTrust Corporation (OTCQX: FIRT) in connection with the acquisition by First Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: FMBH).
Represented Guaranty Federal Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: GFED) in connection with the merger with Hometown Bancshares, Inc.
Representation of Level One Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEVL) and its subsidiary Level One Bank (HQ: Michigan) in M&A, IPO, subordinated debt, and other transactions.
Represented Midland States Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: MSBI) in connection with its acquisition of Alpine Bancorporation, Inc.
Represented ATBancorp in connection with the acquisition by MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: MOFG).
Represented QCR Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: QCRH) in connection with the divestiture of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Rockford Bank and Trust Company, to Illinois Bank & Trust, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: HTLF).
Represented USAmeriBancorp, Inc. (OTC Pink: USAB), in connection with its merger with Valley National Bancorp (NYSE: VLY).
Activities & Honors
- Selected, Illinois Rising Stars, Super Lawyers (2017-2020)
- Member, Chicago Bar Association, Employee Benefits Committee
- Member, National Association of Stock Plan Professionals
- Member, Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- Wills for Heroes, Prepare wills and power of attorney documents on pro bono basis
- Recipient, Highest Performance Award in Taxation 2, University of Wisconsin Law School
Speaking Engagements & Presentations
Articles & Publications
News
Education
University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2011
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Masters of Accountancy, 2008
University of Wisconsin-Madison, B.A., Business Administration in Accounting, 2007
Bar & Court Admissions
- State of Illinois
- State of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Wisconsin
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