Leigh C. Riley

Partner

Leigh Riley focuses her practice on employee benefits and executive compensation. In the area of employee benefits, Leigh concentrates on qualified retirement plans, including 401(k) and defined benefit pension plans. In the area of executive compensation, she counsels both private and public companies on establishing and administering all types of executive compensation programs, including stock options, restricted stock, phantom stock arrangements, nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements, and executive employment agreements. Leigh also routinely works on the benefits aspects of mergers and acquisitions, both on the buy- and sell-side.

Leigh is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. She is also a partner in the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice and the Insurance & Reinsurance and Automotive Industry Teams, and she serves as legal counsel to the Firm with respect to its benefit plans. She also is a member of the firm’s Best Self Committee, which provides programs and information to help each individual working at Foley achieve their personal and professional success.

Leigh is the former vice chair of the firm’s Business Law Department and former chair of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice.

Leigh joined Foley in 1997 after practicing with a Global AmLaw 10 firm.

Awards and Recognition

  • Recognized in Chambers USA for Labor & Employment: Employee Benefits & Compensation (2017-2024)
  • Selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (2007 – 2023)
  • Named the 2013, 2017, and 2023 “Milwaukee Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers
  • Recognized as one of Wisconsin Law Journal’s “Women in the Law” for her achievement of excellence in employee benefits and executive compensation law, and for her positive influence on other women pursuing legal careers, encouraging women to seek advanced opportunities within the profession (2012)
06 June 2024 Deals and Wins

Foley Represents nVent Electric in Agreement to Acquire Trachte for $695M

Foley & Larder LLP represented nVent Electric plc (nVent), a global leader in electrical connection and protection solutions, in its agreement to acquire the parent company of Trachte, LLC for $695 million, subject to customary adjustments.
06 June 2024 Press Releases

Foley Achieves Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2024

Foley & Lardner LLP is pleased to announce that it is again recognized by Chambers & Partners as one of the leading law firms in the country in the 2024 edition of Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
22 May 2024 Legal News: Employee Benefits Insights

Employee Benefits in Mergers & Acquisitions: Key Considerations When Acquiring a Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Although pension plans are increasingly rare, if your business is considering acquiring a company that sponsors a pension plan, then several new diligence and deal considerations come into play for the transaction.
22 April 2024 Deals and Wins

Foley Represents AI Pioneer Matterport in Definitive Agreement to be Acquired by CoStar Group

Foley & Lardner LLP is representing Matterport, Inc. in its proposed acquisition by CoStar Group for an estimated equity value of approximately $2.1 billion and an enterprise value of approximately $1.6 billion.
23 February 2024 Deals and Wins

Foley Represents rPlus Energies in $460M Partnership with Sandbrook Capital

Foley & Lardner LLP served as legal advisor to rPlus Energies, a leading private renewable energy developer, in the formation of its platform-level partnership with Sandbrook Capital, a private investment firm dedicated to transforming the world's energy infrastructure.
21 February 2024 Legal News: Employee Benefits Insights

Diving Into SECURE 2.0: IRS Issues Guidance to Expand Access to 401(k) Savings for Long-Term Part-Time Employees

In this article, we discuss the proposed regulations that were recently published, covering SECURE 2.0’s expanded access to 401(k) plan savings for certain long-term part-time employees.