John focuses on all aspects of compensation and benefits, including corporate, securities, bankruptcy, employment and tax laws and ERISA.
John has extensive experience in executive compensation and corporate governance matters, Dodd-Frank and Sarbanes-Oxley, and the employee issues implicated in the mergers and acquisitions context. He also has experience in advising startup companies in the biotechnology sector regarding corporate and compensation matters.
Experience
Representative matters
TPG Inc. in the compensation and governance aspects of its acquisition of Angelo Gordon.
Mubadala in its pending acquisition, with Fortress management, of a 90.01% equity interest in Fortress Investment Group from Softbank.
TPG Inc. on the executive compensation, equity incentive, and senior executive and founder retention matters and related governance and disclosure considerations in connection with its $1 billion initial public offering.
The Compensation Committee of Gogo Inc. (mobile telephony for business aviation) on executive compensation and governance matters.)
Pro bono
Trustee and Secretary, International House
Published Work
- Cannon, J. (2015) “Just Say No: Why Directors Should Avoid Duties That Will Subject Them to ERISA,” Bloomberg BNA’s Corporate Law & Accountability Report
- Cannon, J. (2013) “In re Trados: Directors Dodge a Bullet,” in Shearman & Sterling LLP Corporate Governance Newsletter
- Cannon, J. and Kessel, M. (2013) “Stock Options and Beyond” (with Mark Kessel), Nature Biotechnology 3
Speaking Engagements
- Frequent law school guest speaker: Harvard Law School, New York University School of Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School, James E. Rogers College of Law-University of Arizona and University of Colorado Law School
- Speaker at multiple professional conferences, including Practicing Law Institute, “Hot Issues in Executive Compensation” and “Seventeenth Annual Institute on Securities Regulation in Europe” (Legal Ethics Panel), and Equilar/NASDAQ, “Compensation Committee Forum”
Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations
- Member, The American Law Institute
- Adviser, American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law, Corporate Governance project
- Inaugural Fellow, American College of Governance Counsel
- Chair, Advisory Committee, Salzburg Global Forum on Corporate Governance
Recognition
“He gives very sophisticated advice.”
Chambers USA, 2023
“Guides his clients through a range of compensation and benefits matters stemming from corporate transactions. His practice includes advising on corporate governance issues and pension and employee benefit plan.”
Chambers USA, 2023
Awards
- Ranked in Chambers USA Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation for 16 years
- Recognized in Legal 500 USA
Qualifications
Admissions
New York, 1987
Academic
B.A., Harvard University, 1980
J.D., New York University, 1985
J.D., New York University, 1985
Languages
French, Spanish
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.