Yale D. Tauber

Yale D. Tauber, who died in 2013 at age 69, was an expert in executive compensation and employee benefits law. He was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel (the “College”) in 2002.

Yale attended the University of Rochester where he graduated in 1965 with an A.B. in psychology. He then went on to attend the Columbia University School of Law where he graduated cum laude in 1968 with an LL.B. and was a Kent Scholar. Following graduation, he clerked in the U.S. Federal District Court in New York City for Judge Milton Pollack. He also received an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University Graduate School of Law.

After completing his clerkship with Judge Pollack, Yale joined the law firm of Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler where he became a partner. In 1983, he became a partner and head of the Compensation and Benefits Practice at LeBoeuf, Lamb, Leiby & MacRae.

Yale left the law firm in 1987 to become a Worldwide Partner at William M. Mercer, a subsidiary of Marsh & McClennan. He served on its U.S. board and as head of all operations in New York and New Jersey. He later served as leader of Mercer's U.S. executive compensation consulting practice.

After retiring from Mercer in 2003, Yale founded Independent Compensation Committee Advisors, LLC, providing independent counsel to compensation committees and boards of directors of various sizes and scopes. He was also the Program Director for The Conference Board regarding executive compensation.

Over the years, Yale lectured extensively and co-authored several books and numerous articles on executive compensation and employee benefits, including "Executive Compensation" (BNA Books, November 2002).

A member of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation Employee Benefits, Yale served as the chairman of various subcommittees. Additionally, he was a member and lectured worldwide for the International Bar Association. He was also a member of World at Work, and the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals.

Yale had a talent for communicating the difficult topics in his practice area. His professional status as an expert was such that he appeared on television as a guest commentator on CNN, CNBC, Financial News Network, and the Wall Street Journal Reports.

Yale was well-appreciated within the employee benefits community for his knowledge, impressive presentations, and good humor.

Photo Source: The Decade Book, American College of Employee Benefits Counsel 2000-2010