Matthew B. Grunert Joins Bracewell’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Team

HOUSTON – Bracewell LLP announced today that Matthew B. Grunert has joined the firm’s Houston office as a partner in the employee benefits and executive compensation group. He was previously a partner in the Houston office of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP.

“We’re excited to welcome Matt to Bracewell,” said Bracewell Managing Partner Gregory M. Bopp. “He is a skilled practitioner and an outstanding addition to our employee benefits and compensation team.”

Grunert advises clients on issues related to executive compensation, equity compensation plans and award agreements, M&A and capital market transactions, and credit and financing arrangements. He has represented clients on benefits matters before various governmental agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. He has also worked with clients on the design, implementation and maintenance of defined contribution and defined benefits plans, as well as health and welfare plans.

“Matt is a tremendous lawyer, whose practice is closely aligned with the needs of our clients,” said Bruce R. Jocz, chair of Bracewell’s employee benefits and executive compensation practice.

Grunert is the tenth in a series of strategic partner hires made by Bracewell since the beginning of the year. In September, Ann D. Navaro joined the environmental strategies group in Washington, DC. Keith E. Blackman, Joshua C. Klein and Allan N. Taffet joined the New York litigation team in May. That same month, Oliver M. Irwin joined the finance team in London. James P. Plummer joined the firm’s San Antonio office as a partner in the public finance group in April. In March, healthcare partner Nancy C. LeGros joined the public finance team in Dallas, and Fernando J. Rodriguez Marin and Nicolai J. Sarad joined the project finance team in New York.

“Bracewell is an exceptional firm. I’m looking forward to working with my talented new colleagues in addressing the needs of our clients,” said Grunert.

Grunert graduated with a B.A. from Trinity University in 1998. He received his J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 2004, where he was a member of the SMU Computer Law Review and the Order of the Coif. He received his LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law in 2005. Grunert is a member of the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals, the National Center for Employee Ownership and the Society for Corporate Governance.