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Michael D. Klippert
Partner
Employee Benefits and Compensation
Palo Alto

D650-849-3276

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  • Representing Innovative Companies Throughout the Corporate Life Cycle

    Michael represents a broad range of public and private technology, medical device manufacturing, and life sciences companies in executive compensation and employee benefit arrangement matters.

  • Substantial Experience in High-Profile Transactions

    Michael has focused on employee benefits and compensation matters for more than 14 years. His recent work includes advising on benefits and compensation issues in significant M&A transactions.

Michael Klippert is a partner in Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati's employee benefits and compensation practice. Michael represents a wide range of public and private companies with respect to compensation and benefit matters, particularly within the technology, medical device manufacturing, and life science sectors.

Michael’s practice focuses on all matters relating to compensation—including the design, implementation, and disclosure of equity compensation and bonus plans, change in control and severance plans, deferred compensation arrangements, and employment agreements. He regularly counsels clients on the tax implications of executive compensation arrangements, including Internal Revenue Code Sections 280G and 409A, as well as the corresponding financial accounting and securities law implications. Michael also assists public and private companies with corporate governance and compliance matters, including compensation disclosures for proxy filings and other applicable securities filings.

Michael has substantial experience assisting public and private companies with compensation and benefit issues that arise in mergers and acquisitions transactions, including treatment of equity awards, golden parachute and deferred compensation tax issues, and employee liability risk shifting. He has played a key role in several recent high-profile M&A transactions, including sell-side transactions for Silk Road Medical, Rover Group, Thorne HealthTech, DTx Pharma, Applied Molecular Transport, and Medallia, and buy-side transactions for Degreed, GoFundMe, and project44.

Michael also has significant experience with “go public” transactions, including initial public offerings, reverse mergers, and de-SPAC transactions. Since 2020, he has assisted companies such as Palantir in its direct listing; Rover Group, Sonder Holdings, and Inspirato Incorporated in their de-SPAC transactions; Enliven Therapeutics with its reverse merger; and Arcellx, Udemy, JFrog, and Upstart Holdings in their initial public offerings.

Prior to joining the firm, Michael clerked for the Honorable Harry A. Haines of the United States Tax Court in Washington, D.C.

Experience

Michael Klippert is a partner in Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati's employee benefits and compensation practice. Michael represents a wide range of public and private companies with respect to compensation and benefit matters, particularly within the technology, medical device manufacturing, and life science sectors.

Michael’s practice focuses on all matters relating to compensation—including the design, implementation, and disclosure of equity compensation and bonus plans, change in control and severance plans, deferred compensation arrangements, and employment agreements. He regularly counsels clients on the tax implications of executive compensation arrangements, including Internal Revenue Code Sections 280G and 409A, as well as the corresponding financial accounting and securities law implications. Michael also assists public and private companies with corporate governance and compliance matters, including compensation disclosures for proxy filings and other applicable securities filings.

Michael has substantial experience assisting public and private companies with compensation and benefit issues that arise in mergers and acquisitions transactions, including treatment of equity awards, golden parachute and deferred compensation tax issues, and employee liability risk shifting. He has played a key role in several recent high-profile M&A transactions, including sell-side transactions for Silk Road Medical, Rover Group, Thorne HealthTech, DTx Pharma, Applied Molecular Transport, and Medallia, and buy-side transactions for Degreed, GoFundMe, and project44.

Michael also has significant experience with “go public” transactions, including initial public offerings, reverse mergers, and de-SPAC transactions. Since 2020, he has assisted companies such as Palantir in its direct listing; Rover Group, Sonder Holdings, and Inspirato Incorporated in their de-SPAC transactions; Enliven Therapeutics with its reverse merger; and Arcellx, Udemy, JFrog, and Upstart Holdings in their initial public offerings.

Prior to joining the firm, Michael clerked for the Honorable Harry A. Haines of the United States Tax Court in Washington, D.C.

Focus Areas
Recent Insights
Client Highlights
Firm Advises Edgewise Therapeutics on Its Sale of Sevasemten for up to $2.65 Billion
On June 1, 2026, Edgewise Therapeutics, a leading muscle disease biopharmaceutical company, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement under which Servier, an independent international pharmaceutical group governed by a foundation, will acquire sevasemten, an orally administered fast skeletal myosin inhibitor in late-stage clinical trials in Becker and Duchenne muscular dystrophies, and Edgewise's muscular dystrophy business for $1.55 billion in upfront cash consideration and up to $1.1 billion in additional milestone payments, for aggregate potential consideration of up to $2.65 billion. The transaction strengthens Edgewise’s balance sheet, providing enhanced financial flexibility and sharpening the company’s strategic focus to accelerate and unlock the full potential of its cardiovascular pipeline. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Edgewise on the transaction.
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Client Highlights
Firm Advises Getlabs on Acquisition by Function
On April 8, 2026, Function Health announced it has acquired Getlabs, a leading mobile healthcare platform that brings licensed specialists directly to one's location. The acquisition allows for the continuation of Getlab’s nationwide network of providers, health systems, and partners, while advancing Function's broader commitment to making healthcare more accessible by building experiences around member needs. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Getlabs on the transaction.
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Recent Events
Affiliated Programs
The 40th Annual TEI-SJSU High Tech Tax Institute
Wilson Sonsini is proud to sponsor the annual TEI-SJSU High Tech Tax Institute - a 2-day conference held every November. The 40th Annual TEI-SJSU High Tech Tax Institute on November 4 - 5, 2024 offers a deep dive into key tax topics relevant to high tech companies. This in-person event is designed for tax pros from corporate tax departments, CPA and law firms, the IRS and state tax agencies who deal with high tech businesses. It is held at the Crowne Plaza Cabana in Palo Alto (4290 El Camino Real). The 2024 topics include Pillar 2, international tax developments, equity compensation, R&D capitalization continues, federal tax controversy, ASC 740 updates, AI applications in the tax department, the future of the corporate tax department, and more. We are pleased to have two outstanding keynote presenters to provide the latest on IRS activities and the DC legislative picture. On Monday November 4, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel will speak at lunch. And on Tuesday November 5, Dave Kautter, former Assistant Secretary of Tax Policy at Treasury will speak at lunch.
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WSGR Events
College for Clients Series: Getting Ready for the Proxy Season
Wilson Sonsini is pleased to host Getting Ready for the Proxy Season, the eighth and final webinar in the 2023 College for Clients Series. The College for Clients Series is designed to help our clients address and manage some of the fundamental legal issues facing them today.
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