Hi! I’m Will Fogleman.

Who am I?

I am a seasoned attorney with over 15 years’ experience in executive compensation and employee benefits law. I am based in Bethesda, Maryland.

I am a problem solver. For years, clients have relied on me to deliver practical advice and solutions regarding employment agreements, equity awards, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, incentive plans, severance plans, and other complex arrangements. Areas of particular expertise include Internal Revenue Code sections 409A, 280G and 83, as well as ERISA and FICA issues.

I have represented a variety of clients, including public and private companies, tax-exempt organizations, and individual executives. I also enjoy lending my expertise to general practice lawyers whose clients need specialized assistance in executive compensation matters. Clients can rely on me to assist with drafting, negotiation, compliance review, and correction matters.

What is my prior experience?

Prior to starting my own solo practice, I was a principal at Groom Law Group, a top employee benefits law firm based in Washington, DC, where I worked for over 10 years. Prior to joining Groom, I worked at Proskauer Rose LLP in its New York and Washington offices. I received my JD from Cornell Law School, and recently completed an LLM in Technology Law and Policy from Georgetown University Law Center.

Why solo practice?

Law firms are a great environment for young lawyers to develop skills. They can also be an efficient vehicle for large representations requiring several layers of attorneys. I will always cherish the experience and training I earned in law firm practice.

But while there is always more to learn, I have long since graduated from the “training” phase of my career. For years, clients have relied on my expertise and judgment to design critical compensation arrangements, ensure compliance with complex tax rules, and resolve frustratingly technical legal challenges. And in the post-Covid era, remote work has been normalized and streamlined, with technology dramatically reducing the overhead costs of operating a law practice.

Clients want to pay for my work product, not for my office space and support staff. And I am not a delegator by nature: I enjoy working side-by-side with clients, and value the personal connections that grow from these representations. So I find a solo practice works best for me. To prospective clients: I think you will find it works great for you too.

Where are you admitted?

I am admitted to practice law in Maryland, New York, and the District of Columbia.