Suzanne A. Walker
Counsel

701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 200, Washington, DC USA 20004

3 TIMES SQUARE, New York, NY USA 10036

Overview

Suzanne Walker focuses her practice on matters relating to employee benefits and executive compensation for public and private companies. Her employee benefit experience includes advising clients with respect to the design, drafting, and operation of tax-qualified retirement plans such as 401(k) plans, employee stock ownership plans, and KSOPs. Suzanne frequently advises clients on executive compensation matters relating to employment and consulting agreements, and the design and implementation of cash and stock-based incentive compensation plans. Publicly-traded companies benefit from her extensive knowledge of federal securities disclosure and registration rules governing stock benefit plans. Suzanne works closely with clients on the drafting of proxy statements and other securities filings.

Private and public companies also seek her guidance with human resource law issues, including the development of effective personnel policies and practices, employee and director education on employer-sponsored benefit plans, and the management of reductions in force and other severance matters.

In 2021, 2022 and 2023, Suzanne was named to the Capital Pro Bono High Honor Roll, which recognizes the contributions of those D.C. Bar members who donated 100 hours or more of pro bono service during the previous calendar year.

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Experience

Represented Beneficial Bancorp, Inc. (“Beneficial” – NASDAQ: BNCL) in its $1.5 billion merger with and into WSFS Financial Corporation (“WSFS” – NASDAQ: WSFS), in one of the largest bank mergers announced in the U.S. in 2018.

Represented Audubon Savings Bank in its merger with William Penn Bancorp, Inc., the holding company for William Penn Bank.

Represented SI Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SIFI) and its subsidiary, Savings Institute Bank and Trust Company, in its all-stock sale to Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. valued at $182.2 million.

Represented United Community Bancorp in its $114.1 million acquisition by Civista Bancshares, Inc.

Represented Liberty Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiary, BankLiberty, in its $103.7 million merger into Central Bancompany, Inc. BankLiberty will also be merged into Central Bancompany’s affiliate bank, Central Bank of the Midwest.

Represented Coastal Financial Corporation, Everett, WA, in its $42 million underwritten initial public offering.

Represented Grasshopper Bank, N.A., a de novo national bank that will fully utilize digital banking to serve innovation economy companies and venture capital firms in New York and other major US innovation economy centers, in obtaining a national bank charter and in connection with its $116 million private placement offering to capitalize the Bank.

Represented Sage bank, a closely held Massachusetts state-chartered cooperative stock bank, in its $9 million sale to Salem Five Bank, a subsidiary of Salem Five Bancorp.

Represented First Connecticut Bancorp, Inc. with respect to employee benefits, executive compensation arrangements and related matters in connection with its $544 million merger with People’s United Financial, Inc.

Represented a Philadelphia financial institution on executive compensation and employee benefits matters. Assisted in the design and drafting of a comprehensive retirement program that included merging the institution’s employee stock ownership plan and 401(k) plan and freezing the institution’s defined benefit plan, along with drafting a supplemental retirement plan for certain executive officers impacted by the restructuring of the institution’s retirement benefit program. The firm counseled the Compensation Committee on the design of an equity incentive plan and assisted the committee and management in developing performance-based criteria for equity awards.

Represented a large Massachusetts financial institution on executive compensation and employee benefits matters, including implementation of arrangements in connection with its initial public offering and change in control and golden parachute issues in acquisition.

Represented a Missouri financial institution on executive compensation and employee benefits matters. Assisted client in the design and implementation of a stock and cash-based bonus program and related deferred compensation plan for its mortgage banking division.

Represented Polonia Bancorp, Inc. headquartered in Huntingdon Valley, Pa. in its acquisition by Prudential Bancorp, Inc. based in Philadelphia, Pa. The firm counseled the Board of Directors, negotiated the terms of the merger agreement, and prepared shareholder disclosure materials and other SEC filings.

Represented United Financial Bancorp Inc., West Springfield, Massachusetts, in its stock merger with Rockville Financial Inc., Hartford, Connecticut.

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Education

American University B.A.

Hofstra University J.D.

Admissions

District of Columbia

New York

Professional & Community Activities

Pro Bono Legal Counsel – Make a Wish Mid-Atlantic

Pro Bono Legal Counsel and Board Member – The Christ Child Society of Washington, DC

Pro Bono Legal Counsel – Wine Empowered

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