Another Interview with Jeremy Goldstein

Jeremy Goldstein is renowned as the top executive compensation attorney in New York and one of the best in the country. He’s published several on the matters of executive compensation and corporate governance. He’s the lawyer that everyone comes to discuss their companies’ compensation methods.

Recently, Mr. Goldstein sat down to talk about his daily tasks and how he manages to stay ahead of the competition. Firstly, he founded Jeremy L. Goldstein and Associates to set himself apart from others. He worked at a prestigious law firm before establishing his own firm, but the law firm he worked relied on traditional relationships with clients.

For years, Goldstein believed that relationships would work better if lawyers paid deeper attention to their clients. Additionally, ten years into his career, he and some colleagues began noticing a shift in executive compensation. Due to an unapparent conflict of interest, executive compensation consulting firms began breaking away from their larger parent firms. So, Jeremy Goldstein wondered: why not do the same thing with a law firm?

The average workday for Jeremy Goldstein is a lot different than that of a traditional lawyer. He takes a personal interest in his clients; he considers it the best way to advise, negotiate, and draft in favor of his clients. This unique approach demands full dedication and 24-hour availability. To manage his time, he concluded that only taking manageable cases would suit his firm best.

His interest in clients goes beyond just what they hope to gain during a transaction. Goldstein used his time to working with other law firms to form more personal relationships with clients. Once he established his firm, he began talking with his clients regularly. He even discussed business at social events and welcomes his clients to visit his office anytime.

Unlike flamboyant attorneys who claim to be the greatest innovators in the business, Jeremy Goldstein admits that nothings entirely new or unforeseen. He’s worked in the business for more than 20 years, and he’s seen a lot in that time. Bringing his ideas to life only requires a good memory. With that, he’s able to rhyme issues with something he’s seen before.

Though he’s been in the industry so long, that’s not to say that there’s nothing new that excites him. In recent years, shareholders have finally achieved the modification goals they’ve sought since the early 2000s. Now, compensation committees, companies, and executives aren’t consumed by the worry of running afoul any emerging rules. With these groups free to innovate, thoughtful discussions about linking pay and strategy/performance are happening.

Jeremy Goldstein’s success also inspires him to give back to those less fortunate. For years, he’s worked closely with the Fountain House, a charitable organization that helps people recover from the long-term and short-term effects of mental illness. He also hosts annual wine dinners to raise money and awareness for Fountain House’s cause and programs.