Hogan Lovells said this week that Krisa Benskin has joined the international firm as a corporate and finance partner in Houston after nearly four years with Latham & Watkins. Prior to that, Benskin spent a dozen years at Baker Botts.
Hogan Lovells said Benskin is well-versed in providing counsel on golden parachute and severance arrangements, deferred compensation, other nonqualified plans and equity-based compensation arrangements. She joins the firm’s tax, pensions and benefits practice. Benskin has been an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center since 2018.
“With demand for M&A and public company advisory work continuing to rise, we are committed to enhancing our employee benefits and executive compensation capabilities to meet our clients’ needs. Krisa’s addition to the team addresses this and reinforces our strength in this area,” said James Doyle, Hogan Lovells Global Head of Corporate & Finance.
Josh Scala, head of the firm’s head of U.S. tax operations said Benskin “is particularly skilled at guiding clients through complex IRS and [Labor Department] audits, Affordable Care Act requirements, and payroll tax issues.”
“Her know-how strengthens our ability to deliver comprehensive and strategic solutions to our public company clients who rely on us for securities advisory work as well as look to us for advice on benefit plans for their employees,” Scala said.
Managing Partner Bruce Oakley said Benskin follows two other recent additions to the Houston team, with capital markets partner Jim Davidson coming over in April and M&A partner Conor Larkin joining Hogan Lovells in late October.
Benskin said there were many reasons that drew her to Hogan Lovells, “but above all, the commitment to exceptional client service and collaborative culture were two key factors in my decision.”
AREAS OF FOCUS
Benskin counsels clients in understanding and managing the executive compensation, employee and benefits plan aspects of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures by public and private companies.
EDUCATION
Undergraduate: Harvard University (History & Literature, 2004)
Law School: University of Texas (JD, 2009)