Key Compensation Items for the 2023 Proxy Season and Beyond: An overview of recent SEC and proxy advisory developments and other perennial executive compensation matters for public companies

Each year brings new executive compensation rules and considerations, whether based on Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules, developments under the Internal Revenue Code, litigation trends, institutional adviser sentiment, or proxy advisory firm policy updates. As a result, US public companies will need to be on top of the changing executive compensation rules when preparing their proxy statements and annual meeting agendas. Latham & Watkins provides an overview of key regulatory developments, including final rules from the SEC on pay versus performance disclosures, clawback policies and 10b5-1 insider trading plans, updates to Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis voting guidelines, considerations relating to CEO pay ratio disclosures and equity plan proposals and other important proxy season housekeeping and reminders, including as they relate to say on pay and the say on pay frequency vote and compensation advisor independence and risk assessments. Companies should consult with their legal, tax, and accounting advisers to confirm compliance with disclosure requirements, tax law developments, recent litigation trends, and other considerations that will require continued attention in 2023 and beyond.