Leigh C. Riley

Partner

Leigh Riley focuses her practice on employee benefits and executive compensation. In the area of employee benefits, Leigh concentrates on qualified retirement plans, including 401(k) and defined benefit pension plans. In the area of executive compensation, she counsels both private and public companies on establishing and administering all types of executive compensation programs, including stock options, restricted stock, phantom stock arrangements, nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements, and executive employment agreements. Leigh also routinely works on the benefits aspects of mergers and acquisitions, both on the buy- and sell-side.

Leigh is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. She is also a partner in the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice and the Insurance & Reinsurance and Automotive Industry Teams, and she serves as legal counsel to the Firm with respect to its benefit plans. She also is a member of the firm’s Best Self Committee, which provides programs and information to help each individual working at Foley achieve their personal and professional success.

Leigh is the former vice chair of the firm’s Business Law Department and former chair of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice.

Leigh joined Foley in 1997 after practicing with a Global AmLaw 10 firm.

Awards and Recognition

  • Recognized in Chambers USA for Labor & Employment: Employee Benefits & Compensation (2017-2023)
  • Selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (2007 – 2023)
  • Named the 2013, 2017, and 2023 “Milwaukee Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers
  • Recognized as one of Wisconsin Law Journal’s “Women in the Law” for her achievement of excellence in employee benefits and executive compensation law, and for her positive influence on other women pursuing legal careers, encouraging women to seek advanced opportunities within the profession (2012)
29 November 2023 Deals and Wins

Foley Represents Mozaic in $20M Series A Funding Round

Foley & Lardner LLP represented Mozaic, a global payment platform for multi-party payouts, in its $20 million Series A funding round led by Volition Capital.
06 November 2023 Article

Webinar Key Takeaways: Feeling Insecure About SECURE 2.0? A Discussion for Retirement Plan Sponsors

SECURE 2.0 significantly changed the legal and administrative compliance landscape for retirement plans. Foley recently hosted a webinar where Leigh Riley, Kathleen Bardunias, and Kelsey O’Gorman discussed key provisions of SECURE 2.0 that will impact your 401(k) and pension plans.
1 November 2023 Events

Feeling Insecure About SECURE 2.0? A Discussion for Retirement Plan Sponsors

SECURE 2.0 significantly changed the legal and administrative compliance landscape for retirement plans. Foley & Lardner’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team invites you to attend this informative webinar discussing key provisions of SECURE 2.0 that will impact your 401(k) and pension plans as well as providing insights and suggestions for administering your company-sponsored retirement plans in light of these new rules and related best practices.
30 October 2023 Deals and Wins

Foley Represents True North in Minority Investment in iLink Digital

Foley & Lardner LLP acted as international legal counsel to True North, an India-based private equity firm, in its investment of $75 million for a minority stake in iLink Digital, a leading provider of digital transformation solutions.
17 August 2023 Honors and Awards

Foley Attorneys Recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers in America

Foley & Lardner LLP proudly announced today that 236 of the firm’s attorneys across 20 U.S. offices have received recognition in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
11 July 2023 Manufacturing Industry Advisor

Top Legal Issues Facing the Manufacturing Sector in 2023

As we embark on the second half of 2023, this second annual Manufacturing White Paper examines the business and legal considerations that continue to impact the industry and offers the perspectives and insights of attorneys with deep experience serving as trusted advisors to manufacturing companies.