Crescent Moran Chasteen is a partner in Goodwin’s ERISA and Executive Compensation practice. She advises a wide variety of clients, including both public and private companies, executives and boards with respect to the executive compensation and employee benefits aspects of corporate transactions and initial public offerings, including pre-signing negotiations, executive and equity compensation issues (such as, Section 280G – the golden parachute rules), and matters relating to post-closing employee integration. She also advises clients on the design, drafting and administration of equity-based compensation programs, employment, severance, change in control and deferred compensation arrangements, including associated tax (e.g., Section 409A), accounting and securities law implications. She also assists public companies with corporate compensation disclosure for proxy filings and other applicable securities filings.
Crescent also has experience in the design, implementation, tax aspects, and operation with respect to tax-qualified retirement plans, including defined benefit and 401 (k) retirement plans, nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements and employee welfare benefit plans, including compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and recent healthcare reform laws.
Prior to joining Goodwin, Crescent practiced executive compensation and employee benefits law at multinational law firms in Boston and Washington, D.C.
Areas of Practice
Professional Activities
Crescent is the Co-Chair of the Boston Bar Association’s ERISA Subcommittee and a member of the BBA’s Tax Steering Committee. She is also actively involved in the American Bar Association’s Joint Committee on Employee Benefits.
Credentials
Education
LLM
Georgetown University Law Center
JD
Western New England University School of Law
BA
University of Maine
Clerkships
U.S. Tax Court, Honorable Carolyn P. Chiechi
Admissions
Bars
- Massachusetts
- District of Columbia
- Maine
- Michigan
Recognition & Awards
Crescent has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America Best Lawyers for her work in Tax Law 2023.
Publications
Co-Author, “When Reality Collides with Legality: Profits Interests in Practice,” Tax Notes April 17, 2017
Co-Author, “They can’t take it them – ‘Clawback’ policies hit errant executives where it hurts most,” National Law Review Journal 29 No. 97, S1, March 21, 2007
Author, “Risk Management and Clawback of Executive Compensation,” 12 Mo. 18 Andrews Sec. Litig. & Reg. Rep. 2, Jan. 10, 2007
Speaking Engagements
TMA Northeast, “Impact of Tax Reform on Businesses,” March 23, 2018.
American Bar Association, Section of Taxation 2018 Midyear Meeting, “Tax Reform,” February 9, 2018.
Boston Bar Association, “Profits Interests in Practice and Other Equity Alternatives for Partnerships,” September 22, 2017.
American Bar Association, 2017 Section of Taxation May Meeting, “IRS Employment Tax Audits, Part 1,” May 12, 2017.
Boston Bar Association, “What Employers Need to Know About New 409A and 457 Regulations,” November 10, 2016.