Aimee Bell (Soodan)
Biography
Aimee Bell (Soodan) has experience in all areas of compensation and benefits with a concentration in US and international equity and executive compensation and provides holistic advice and counseling on all compensation and incentive arrangements, both for employees in and outside the United States. She is exceptionally well-versed with respect to the tax, legal and administrative aspects of global equity programs. Aimee serves on the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals’ Executive Advisory Committee, served as the Director of the Global Equity Organization's US Midwest Chapter for over a decade, and taught international employee benefits courses as an adjunct professor at the Center for Tax Law & Employee Benefits at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. Aimee is a recognized practitioner by Chambers US 2024 with clients noting, "We value Aimee's insight and awareness on what we are trying to accomplish through our programs. She is very responsive."
Practice Focus
Aimee Bell (Soodan) regularly advises large multinational employers with respect to the global extension of their employee equity compensation programs, including the design, implementation, administration and ongoing tax and regulatory compliance of such programs. She represents some of the largest companies in the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries. Aimee also designs, drafts and conducts US and international legal reviews of long-term incentive and employee stock purchase programs, nonqualified deferred compensation programs, equity reimbursement agreements and change in control agreements. She is also well-versed in international executive mobility, particularly in the taxation of equity compensation payable to globally mobile employees.
Representative Legal Matters
Recent projects include:
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Advised a Fortune 100 company as to the tax and regulatory aspects of granting long-term incentive awards in over 70 countries and drafted global forms of stock option, restricted stock unit and performance award agreement.
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Assisted a Fortune Global 500 company with analyzing and addressing equity-related issues and action items associated with the spin-off of its pharmaceutical business.
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Assisted a multinational company with drafting a global employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”) and addressing legal, regulatory and tax requirements associated with offering the ESPP in over 40 jurisdictions.
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Advised a large multinational company as to compensation and benefit issues associated with redomesticating to Ireland.
Professional Honors
- Recognized Practitioner, Chambers US, Illinois, Employee Benefits, 2024
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Global Equity Organization
- National Association of Stock Plan Professionals, Executive Advisory Committee
Admissions
- Georgia~United States (2022)
- Illinois~United States (2007)
- Colorado~United States (1999)
Education
- John Marshall Law School (LL.M.) (1999)
- John Marshall Law School (J.D.) (1999)
- University of New Mexico (B.A.) (1995)
Languages
- English