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German Version of Bio

Born in Hannover and raised in Hamburg, Germany, Riebana Sachs is a native German speaker and has an acute understanding of German and European business culture. Our clients appreciate her responsiveness, business oriented and pragmatic approach to legal advice and unique perspective, as well as her combined expertise in corporate and employment law.

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Riebana' s corporate practice focuses on national and international corporate matters, including corporate restructuring, intercompany service agreements, mergers and acquisition of cross-border, as well as domestic transactions. In addition, Riebana advises our international clients on forming, maintaining and dissolving business entities in the United States, as well as foreign investment and other governmental regulations.

As a member of the employment group, Riebana advises clients on various employment matters and compliance issues. She regularly counsels companies on employee handbooks, employment agreements, and severance agreements, and leave and PTO policies. Riebana is also experienced in conducting workplace investigations regarding discrimination and sexual harassment claims or in response to complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Related to Employee Equity Compensation, Riebana counsels clients on federal and state securities laws and regulations.

Prior to joining Masuda Funai, Riebana served as a prosecutor for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office in Chicago, Illinois and surrounding suburbs.

Practice Areas

Education

  • DePaul University College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2016, Order of the Coif; DePaul Law Review, Managing Editor of Notes & Comments; CALI "Best in Class" Awards: Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, Legal Analysis, Research & Communications I and II, Legal Drafting, Legal Profession and Advanced Trial Advocacy
  • Iowa State University, B.S., Psychology, summa cum laude, 2010; Recipient of the International Incentive Scholarship, 2009-2010

Admissions

  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio

Languages

  • German
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Experience

Experience

Obtained exemptions from security registrations with state regulators for U.K. and Japanese companies regarding employee’s equity compensation plans.

Represented Marlabs, Inc., a digital services company, in a deal with BV Investments partners, a middle market private equity firm focused on technology, software and IT services industries, which made a significant, growth investment in Marlabs.

Assisted an Austrian company in the sale of its U.S. subsidiary.

Assisted a Japanese company in the creation of a joint venture involving multiple international companies in a cross-border transaction.

Advised a Japanese company in the restructuring of its U.S. group, involving multiple mergers of its U.S. subsidiaries.

Negotiated an employment contract for an executive employee of a German company’s U.S. subsidiary.

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Investigated serious allegations of sexual harassment by an employee of a corporate client.

Memberships

Memberships

American Bar Association
Professional Activities
Legal Updates/Client Advisories
Considerations for Parent Companies and Subsidiaries Under the NLRB's Proposed Joint Employer Rule
Executive Summary The National Labor Relations Board's ("NLRB") Proposed October 2023 Joint Employer Rule would make it easier for two…
Important Compliance Considerations for Equity Compensation – Federal and State Securities Laws
Executive Summary Company securities, including, but not limited to stock options and restrictive stock units, have become a staple and…
Michigan Expands Sick Leave and Increases Minimum Wage in 2025
Michigan employers must soon provide substantially more sick leave to eligible employees. They will be subject to new annual minimum wage…
2023 Merger Guidelines
In December 2023, the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department (the “Agencies”) issued the 2023 Merger Guidelines (the…
New Year, New Data Privacy Regulations: California Consumer Privacy Act Now Regulates HR Data
Executive Summary On January 1, 2023, substantive amendments to the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) took effect and the…
Updates to Federal Protections for Pregnant and Nursing Employees
Executive Summary On December 29, 2022, the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act (“PWFA”), and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for…
Illinois CROWN Act Prohibits Hair Discrimination
Executive Summary On June 29, 2022, Governor JB Pritzker signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 316, the “Create a Respectful and Open…
Mental Health in the Post-Pandemic Workplace: 3 Things Employers Should Consider
Executive Summary The Coronavirus pandemic has impacted our collective mental health. Employees have lost loved ones, connections to…
Changes to Vertical M&A Transactions: Will Digital Start-Ups Feel the Effects?
Executive Summary While antitrust enforcers in the United States and abroad traditionally have approached vertical M&A transactions…
Masuda Funai Employment Newsflash - What Employers Should Know About the EEOC's Updates to Religious Accommodation and Vaccine Mandate Guidance
On March 1, 2022, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) updated its guidance on religious accommodations and COVID-19…
California Requires COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave In 2022
Executive Summary On February 9, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law, Senate Bill 114, the 2022 California COVID-19…
No Lockdown for the U.S. Venture Capital Industry in 2020
Even though the coronavirus pandemic had a tumultuous impact on the global economy in 2020 that caused an economic downturn, which the…
New Year, New PPP Loans
Executive Summary On December 27, 2020 President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the “Act”) into law, which…
IRS Doubles Down on No Double Dip
Executive Summary Companies that receive or are reasonably expected to receive forgiveness for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”)…
CFIUS Final Regulations Revise Mandatory Declaration Requirement for Certain Critical Technology Transactions
Executive Summary On September 11, 2020, the Office of Investment Security, Department of Treasury issued a final rule that…
Opening Up Your Workplace Again
Executive Summary On Thursday April 16, 2020, President Trump unveiled his “Guidelines for Opening Up America Again” (the…
President Signs $2 Trillion Dollar Stimulus Into Law - Key Provisions and Implications for Employers
Executive Summary On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES…
Coronavirus Relief Bill Update
Executive Summary Under the mandate of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“Act”), the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”)…
Legal Guidance for 2020 CFIUS Regulations
On January 13, 2020, the Office of Investment Security, Department of Treasury published its final regulations implementing the Foreign…
Speaking Engagements
GACC Midwest Virtual Expert Workshop - "U.S. Market Entry Strategy Planning - The Basis for U.S. Success," February 17, 2021
2.17.21
Events
Masuda Funai 2021 Virtual Employment Seminar Series: Artificial Intelligence and Other Anticipated Challenges in 2022 and Beyond
9.30.21
Artificial intelligence is changing human resource functions. Illinois enacted the Artificial Intelligence Video Interview Act. That…
Complimentary Webinar: COVID-19 Required Me to Work From Home... and I Like It - Formalizing Work From Home Arrangements
6.30.20
In March, many employees were sent home to work remotely with little notice or advance planning. In response, many employees have performed…
News
Masuda Funai Hosted the 2024 Employment Seminar
Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd. hosted its annual Employment Seminar on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at the DoubleTree Hotel in…
Masuda Funai Hosts 2024 Immigration Seminar
Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd. hosted its annual Immigration Seminar on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at the DoubleTree Hotel in…
Masuda Funai Represents Marlabs in a Strategic Partnership
Press Release CHICAGO - Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd. represented Marlabs, Inc. (“Marlabs”), a digital services company, in a deal…
Jennifer Watson and Riebana Sachs Presented at GACC Midwest's US Market Entry Bootcamp
On October 28, 2021, Jennifer R.M.C. Watson, Principal, and Riebana E. Sachs, Associate, in Masuda Funai’s Corporate, Finance and…
Riebana Sachs Co-Presented at GACC's Virtual Expert Workshop Series
On February 17, 2021, Riebana Sachs, Associate at Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd., participated in the Virtual German American…
Publications
"No Lockdown for the U.S. Venture Capital Industry in 2020" - BizBuddy, July 2021
Co-Authored "IRS Doubles Down on No Double Dip" - BizBuddy, December 2020
Co-Authored "CFIUS Final Regulations Revise Mandatory Declaration Requirement for Certain Critical Technology Transactions" - BizBuddy, October 2020
"Opening Up Your Workplace Again – Part 1" - BizBuddy, May 2020
Distinctions

Distinctions

  • Illinois Super Lawyers - Rising Star, 2024