Thomas G. LaWer was born on March 29, 1966, in New York, New York, United States. He began his professional development in New York, where he worked as a certified public accountant before pursuing legal education and later building a career in executive compensation in Silicon Valley.
LaWer studied economics at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1988 and graduating magna cum laude. He then attended the University of Chicago Law School, where he earned a Juris Doctor in 1995 with honors and was elected to the Order of the Coif. His accounting education and legal training provided the foundation for his subsequent work combining financial, legal, and compensation expertise.
LaWer began his professional career as a Certified Public Accountant at KPMG in New York City before attending law school. After receiving his Juris Doctor, he practiced as an executive-compensation attorney in Silicon Valley, including work with Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation, in Palo Alto, California, and later with Greenberg Traurig. His legal practice involved executive compensation and employee-benefit matters, and he also wrote, lectured, and was quoted in publications on compensation issues. LaWer subsequently joined Compensia, where he became a Principal and advised compensation committees and senior management on executive, board, equity, severance, and change-in-control arrangements. His consulting work has included executive and board compensation market assessments, bonus-plan and equity-compensation design, equity-plan strategy, equity-plan pool increases, severance and change-in-control programs, and compensation planning for companies transitioning from private to public status. He remains listed as a Principal of Compensia.
LaWer is a member of the State Bar of California.
Quotes from others about the person
Tom LaWer has been described in professional and media coverage as a Silicon Valley executive-compensation lawyer and commentator on executive pay.
