Phil McKnight

Phil McKnight is an experienced attorney and partner at Stinson LLP, specializing in employee benefits and executive compensation. Here are some key details about Phil McKnight:

Experience and Expertise

Phil has over 20 years of experience advising U.S. public and private companies as well as nonprofit organizations on executive compensation, employee benefits, and ERISA matters.1 His areas of focus include:

• Executive compensation programs for corporations, partnerships and LLCs
• Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs)
• Equity compensation structures
• Qualified retirement plans
• Nonqualified deferred compensation plans
• Change in control plans
• Employment agreements
• Short and long-term bonus plans

Notable Work

• Represents many top performing public companies in the Kansas City region on executive compensation and employee benefits matters1
• Counsels several of the Midwest's largest corporations on their employee stock ownership plans1
• Worked on over 100 M&A transactions handling employee benefits due diligence and structuring1
• Represented Embarq Corporation in its $14 billion spin-off from Sprint Corporation, addressing related benefits and compensation issues1
• Advised Garmin International on benefits aspects of multiple acquisitions1

Recognition

• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Employee Benefits Law for over 15 years
• Named "Lawyer of the Year" in the 2020 edition of Best Lawyers
• Recognized in Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers for Employee Benefits and ERISA Law
• Listed in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2020-2022, 2024 editions)1

Education and Admissions

• J.D. from University of Kansas School of Law (Order of the Coif)
• B.A. in Economics from University of Kansas
• Admitted to practice in Missouri and Kansas1

Phil is known for his deep expertise in complex employee benefits and executive compensation matters, particularly for public companies and large corporations in the Midwest region. His LinkedIn username is philipmcknight.