K.C. Klagos

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.

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