Andrea Wahlquist Brown, JD

Andrea Wahlquist Brown, JD, is an Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits Partner in New York City, where she advises leading public and private companies, boards of directors, and senior executives on complex executive compensation and employee benefits matters. Her practice focuses on guiding clients through high-stakes compensation and benefits issues in corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, spin-offs, and restructurings, with particular depth in private equity–backed transactions and the acquisition, management, and disposition of portfolio companies. She is widely recognized for her ability to address sensitive, high-impact issues at the intersection of governance, compensation design, and corporate strategy. Originally from Virginia near Washington, D.C., Andrea initially intended to pursue high-level government service after graduating from law school. That path led her to a clerkship at the U.S. Tax Court, after which she transitioned into private practice in New York City. Early in her career, she developed a strong interest in executive compensation and employee benefits matters, which evolved into a distinguished practice in executive compensation in private equity and high-stakes public company M&A. Over nearly three decades, she has held partner titles at the premier law firms of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. Throughout her career, she has contributed to curriculum development for, and professional training of, associates, building a reputation for technical excellence and collaborative leadership. Andrea is also a strong believer in giving back to her community, serving on the boards of trustees of institutions that support underprivileged children, higher education, and the arts. She and her husband can most often be found attending Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, Lincoln Center performances and enjoying the rich cultural institutions found in New York City. In 2024, she made the difficult decision to step away from her practice to care for a terminally ill parent and to resolve the complex needs of a disabled husband. Following a period of reflection after nearly 30 years in practice, Andrea is energized to re-enter her professional life and continue to contribute her expertise and leadership to the field she has given so much to and loves so much.