 February 2026 Executive Employment Law Newsletter We are now into February and well into Winter. There has been plenty of snow and bone chilling cold in Greater Boston and in Upper New England ski country and much of the rest of the country as well. So if you are a winter sports enthusiast, I hope you are enjoying your winter pastimes in skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice skating, pond hockey or ice fishing or even making snow men or snow ball fights with the kids. And for those, like me, who prefer the warmth, I hope you will be able to take at least some vacation time to warmer places.
In sports, the big story is that our New England Patriots quest for a record 7th Super Bowl championship came to an end Sunday night. The Seattle Seahawks were the better team and well earned their 2nd NFL title over the Pats 29-13. When he rang the bell to open the game, Malcolm Butler, the Seahawks’ old nemesis reminded Seattle fans of the last second interception Butler made on the 1-yard line, that gave New England the NFL Championship. That was the one other time the two teams met in the finals, in Super Bowl 49 – in Feb 2015, 11 years ago. Alas, there would be no such Butler / Brady miracle finish two days ago. But for me, much like the ’67 Boston Red Sox, the miracle for New England was just the sheer joy of seeing the Patriots make it to the Super Bowl at all. After the last two 4-13 seasons, a 14-3 season and 2026 Super Bowl appearance was something I never thought was possible when this season opened. This ending certainly seemed impossible after the Pats were 2-2 in their first four games heading into their first big game as huge underdogs against with the Division dominant Bills for an early season showdown in Buffalo. This past Sunday, the fans of 30 NFL teams wished their teams were there in place of our Pats. Those disappointed include the Chargers, Broncos, and the Bills too all powerful teams the Pats had to defeat to punch their ticket to the Bad Bunny Super Bowl 60. The last of those 2026 playoff wins reminded me of the Pats’ very first Tom Brady led playoff win that led to their even more improbable Super Bowl run, the first of this 21st century. That was the incredible January 2002 snow game, that featured the “tuck rule” and Adam Vinateri’s 45 year field goal to tie the game in white out conditions and the team’s OT win 16-13 over the Raiders in the last game at old Foxboro stadium. (Kicker Viniyeri was also on hand in Sunday introduced as one the 2026 inductees to the NFL Hall of Fane.) Well, the 2026 Pats march to Super Sunday had its own thrilling snow game Playoff victory with Drake Maye and stellar defense enabling the Pats to win 13-10 in the House of Horrors in Denver over the Broncos, something no Pats team was able to achieve in the Brady era. So hail to Mike Vrable for giving us some wonderful memories from this surprising and most enjoyable season and high hopes for the franchise future moving forward. As for Newsletter items, last Friday, IVYEXEC career advancement website published an article of mine on career and compensation opportunities for C-level and senior executives in Board of Director service and also pitfalls to watch for and suggested protections. Further into this February Newsletter, items #3 and #4 are two older articles of mine published in CEOWORLD magazine, the first on negotiating CFO employment agreements, and the second on navigating around non-compete covenants, and item #5 is a special offer also on advice regarding restrictive covenants. As always, I hope some of these items might be of interest and benefit… and my best wishes to all for the rest of February! 1. Executive Service on Corporate Boards of Directors Are you a CEO or other senior executive who has been offered the opportunity to serve on corporate Boards of Directors in your own company and another company? My new article published last Friday, February 6, by IVYEXEC career advancement website, advises on career benefits, compensation, potential liabilities and needed protections to put in place for Board service. Read the Article Here 2. Work with CEOs, C-Suite and Senior Executives, exclusively. Robert Adelson is an attorney specialized in the representation of CEOs, C-level and senior executives. He no longer represents companies or employers. Learn about Robert Adelson’s work with CEOs, C-level and senior executives to advise on and improve job offers, employment contracts, stock, RSUs, options, bonuses and other executive compensation matters, plus advice and aid on issues of wrongful termination, severance, exit terms, retention, change of control, other executive issues and more … More Details Here 3. Negotiating Your CFO Employment Agreement If you have a new job offer or employment contract as a CFO or Chief Financial Officer, my article published in CEOWORLD in 2019, and still relevant, advises on special terms, authority, reliance, equity and executive compensation package, severance and other essential terms to negotiate. Read the Article Here 4. Navigating Non-competes & Other Restrictive covenants Are you a CEO or other senior executive being asked to sign a non-compete or non-solicitation agreement or an NDA in connection with a new position? My article published in CEOWORLD in 2017, and still relevant, offers insights and techniques to surmount the perils such agreements could pose to your career. Read the Article Here 5. 2/2026 Offer: Good until February 24th This 2-week value-packed offer, is as a way to get introduced to my law work: an Executive Restrictive Covenants Law Diagnostic – this offer is good through 2/24/26. More Details Here It’s always a pleasure to get back in touch with you and other clients, friends, and colleagues. I hope the links and information provided will be useful to you and that there will be an opportunity for me to work with you on legal matters in the near future. Let’s keep in touch! Best regards, Rob Robert Adelson *Adelson & Associates, LLC Executive Employment Attorney 101 Federal Street, 19th Floor, Boston, MA 02110 (617) 204-5601 Law Firm (617) 204-5602 Direct (617) 204-5604 Fax Email : [email protected] Website: www.executiveemploymentattorney.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-adelson-b8a1557/ Blog: https://robadelson.wordpress.com/ X: @AttorneyAdelson Note on Adelson & Associates, LLC:* Robert A. Adelson is the Principal of Adelson & Associates, LLC. For fifteen (15) years, from October 2004 through December 2019, Robert Adelson practiced law and referred legal work to associates of his, trusted and experienced colleagues, as a partner of Engel & Schultz, LLP. In December 2019, the lead partners of the firm announced they would go into semi-retirement, go their separate ways, and the office lease would expire in January 2020. In response, Robert Adelson formed Adelson & Associates, LLC in December 2019 and commenced the new firm’s operations on January 1, 2020, with the new firm taking over, on that date and going forward, all current Robert Adelson clients, matters and operations, as well as all referral of legal work to associates of Robert Adelson. Since 1/1/2020, the firm’s offices have been and remain at 101 Federal Street, 19th Floor, across the street from the pre-2020 offices at One Federal Street, 21st Floor, in Boston’s Financial District.
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Six days ago, on May 27, 2020, CEOWorld magazine published an article I wrote on “Triggering Executive Severance to Protect Your Interests in Case of COVID-19 or other Changed Circumstances”. The magazine advised me that I can use “Featured in the CEOWORLD magazine” and the CEOWORLD “Logo” on my website.  This was my 28th article published in CEOWORLD. Earlier this year, the editor advised that I can add CEOWORLD magazine in my LinkedIn profile’s “Experience Section” as an “Opinion Columnist.” and authority in the field. See https://ceoworld.biz/author/robert-adelson/ This article, my most recent, published May 27th, is designed for CEOs, C-level and senior executives, especially those who, once on the job, may find that their chances for success become daunting because changed circumstances beyond their control. For many such executives, the severe economic downturn arising in connection with the COVID-19/coronavirus crisis may cause great reductions in expected base, bonus, equity and LTI compensation and reduced duties and responsibilities as well. However, the article is not limited to COVID-19. The article also discusses other circumstances where clients of the author have also experienced such negative effects, as result of dashed expectations, including where the executive accepted his or her job offer for a CEO, C-level or other senior executive position in reliance on any of these company actions:
 The article then concludes with proactive steps the executive can take in your executive employment and job offer negotiations to protect yourself in the event of such changed circumstances in the future. This includes the crafting of severance terms with triggers tailored to your situation in the event of dashed expectations. Thus, the executive would have an executive contract that provides that if circumstances change, such that the job is no longer what you bargained for, you can move on to a new opportunity and still be made whole as you do so. To see my full CEOWorld magazine. article, go to LINK: https://ceoworld.biz/2020/05/27/triggering-executive-severance-to-protect-your-interests-in-case-of-covid-19-or-other-changed-circumstances/ Or on my website at https://www.executiveemploymentattorney.com/triggering-executive-severance-to-protect-your-interests-in-changed-circumstances/ With more than 12.4+ million-page views, CEOWORLD magazine is the world’s leading business magazine written strictly for CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, CSOs, senior management executives, business leaders, and high net worth individuals worldwide. The editor has also advised that I can add CEOWORLD magazine in my LinkedIn profile’s “Experience Section” as an “Opinion Columnist.” and authority in the field. See https://ceoworld.biz/author/robert-adelson/ It is my hope that this article will be helpful to suggest a potential remedy in job offer negotiations to CEOs, COOs, CMOs, other C-Level and senior executives who are considering a new executive position or giving up other opportunities, and, acting in reliance on the promises made by the employer, and seek protection against potential changed circumstances, whether from a pandemic, loss of a key customer, loss of key personnel, a negative regulatory ruling, loss of financing or otherwise, so the executive can if that happens move and be made whole. If you or any colleague of yours has a need in this area, please do reach out to me at [email protected].
A week ago, on March 31, 2020, CEOWorld magazine published an article I wrote on “Executive Employment Agreement – An Overview for the Newly-Minted CEO or C-Suite Executive”. The magazine advised me that I can use “Featured in the CEOWOLRD magazine” and the CEOWORLD “Logo” on my website. This was my 26th article published in CEOWORLD. Earlier this year, the editor advised that I can add CEOWORLD magazine in my LinkedIn profile’s “Experience Section” as an “Opinion Columnist.” and authority in the field. The magazine has also created a library of my articles on its website, where you can click on and access any of my more than 20 articles with CEOWORLD, published in recent years beginning in 2016. See https://ceoworld.biz/author/robert-adelson/ This article, my most recent, published March 31st, is designed for CEOs, C-level and senior executives, especially those who receive an executive job offer or employment contract for their first CEO or C-level position. The article provides answers and explanations on these important questions:
The article also includes a brief discussion of key terms to seek in a CEO or C-suite employment agreement including terms on the following:
To see my full CEOWorld magazine. article, go to LINK: https://ceoworld.biz/2020/03/31/executive-employment-agreement-an-overview-for-the-newly-minted-ceo-or-c-suite-executive/ Or on my website at https://www.executiveemploymentattorney.com/executive-employment-agreement/ With more than 12.4+ million-page views, CEOWORLD magazine is the world’s leading business magazine written strictly for CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, senior management executives, business leaders, and high net worth individuals worldwide. https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceomagazine/ The editor has also advised that I can add CEOWORLD magazine in my LinkedIn profile’s “Experience Section” as an “Opinion Columnist.” and authority in the field. See https://ceoworld.biz/author/robert-adelson/ It is my hope that this article will be helpful to newly-minted CEOs, COOs, CMOs, other C-Level and senior executives to understand the importance of their first executive employment agreement and to aid them in the negotiation for appropriate terms commensurate with the position each is offered. If you or any colleague of yours has a need in this area, please do reach out to me at [email protected]. Author: Robert AdelsonRobert Adelson has been a corporate and tax attorney since 1977. He began as an associate at nationally prominent New York City “mega” law firms, first at the Wall Street firm Dewey Ballantine Bushby Palmer & Wood and later at the Park Avenue firm Weil Gotshal & Manges. In 1985, Adelson returned home, where he has since established himself as a respected Boston business attorney. He has attained partner at several small and midsize Boston law firms, most recently at Lawson & Weitzen LLP and then Zimble Brettler LLP, where he was a partner from 1994 to 2004 before becoming a partner at Engel & Schultz LLP from 2004 to 2019. With the breakup of that firm over semi-retirement of senior partners, Robert Adelson formed the firm Adelson & Associates, LLC, where he is the principal, that commenced operations 1/1/2020.
 We begin this new year 2020 with a new law firm and a new downtown Boston address, but, at the same time, with full continuity for my growing law practice, which saw its best year in 2019.
Here is more information on the new firm: Robert A. Adelson is now the Principal of Adelson & Associates, LLC. For fifteen (15) years, from October 2004 through December 2019, Robert Adelson practiced law as a partner of Engel & Schultz, LLP, and at the same time referred legal work to his associates, that is to trusted and experienced colleagues of Mr. Adelson’s including several of his former law partners. However, in December 2019, the lead partners of the Engel & Schultz LLP law firm announced they would go into semi-retirement, go their separate ways, and the office lease would expire in January 2020. In response, Robert Adelson formed Adelson & Associates, LLC in December 2019 and commenced the new law firm’s operations on January 1, 2020, with the new law firm, Adelson & Associates, LLC, from that date and going forward, taking over all current Robert Adelson clients and matters, as well as all referral of legal work to associates of Robert Adelson. Commencing tomorrow, 1/15/2020, the address for the new law firm Adelson & Associates, LLC will be 101 Federal Street, Suite 1900, Boston, MA 02110 (another premier Class A office building across the street from our prior building, One Federal Street, with our new offices, this time, on the 19th floor rather than the 21st floor). The office phone number (617-951-9980 ext 205) and fax number (617-951-0048) are, for the present, those of Engel & Schultz LLP. However, by the end of January 2020, it is expected the new office phone and fax for Adelson & Associates, LLC will be in place. If any question arises in this period, when trying to reach Robert Adelson by phone, please use the direct Mobile phone number which remains unchanged and will continue in full use now and going forward (617-875-8665). The email for Robert Adelson ( [email protected] ) is, for the present, his Engel & Schultz LLP email. The new domain for Adelson & Associates, LLC has been established, and Robert Adelson’s new email is [email protected]. However, the seamless migration of [email protected] to [email protected] has not yet been completed. By the end of January 2020, it is expected that the email migration will be completed. So, until you are advised that the email migration has been completed or you begin to receive email from the new email address, please continue to use [email protected] for all email communications to Robert Adelson. Our website remains essentially unchanged, with the same internet address – www.executiveemploymentattorney.com. In marketing, our new shingle and brand will give greater emphasis to my website and marketing emphasis: “Adelson & Associates, LLC – Executive Employment Attorney.” The webpage, established for me at CEOWorld magazine, too will remain largely unchanged. The web address remains –http://ceoworld.biz/author/robert-adelson/ . At that address, you will have a link to over twenty-five (25) articles Robert Adelson has written over the last few years and published in CEOWorld magazine. These are articles on executive job offers, restricted stock and stock options, RSUs, executive bonus structures, change of control, executive retention agreements, wrongful termination and constructive termination and many other subjects of interest to CEOs, CFOs, CSOs, CTOs, COOs, VPs and other senior executives in industries ranging from financial institutions, retailers and manufacturers to software, medical devices and biotechnology companies. From his contributions, Robert Adelson has been recognized by the magazine as an opinion columnist and authority in this field for the CEOWORLD Magazine. At the same time, Robert Adelson continues to represent a number of small companies, company founders, entrepreneurs and independent consultants. That will not change. Robert Adelson will continue those representations and accept new clients in those areas who seek me out. However, the Adelson & Associates, LLC marketing emphasis and the majority of its law practice growth is expected to occur in the representation of CEOs, C-level and senior executive in executive employment, executive equity compensation, retention and separation situations. It has been our pleasure to serve you over the past 15 years under the firm name Engel & Schultz LLP, and we very much look forward to continuing to serve you under our new shingle, Adelson & Associates, LLC. If you have a question or comment on my new law firm, please don’t hesitate to call or email Robert Adelson. Also, if business or pleasure finds you in the Post Office Square area of Boston’s downtown Financial District, and you would like to check out our new offices, please give a call or shoot us an email, and, as Ernie Boch Jr would say, “Come on down!” Best regards, Rob Adelson ROBERT A. ADELSON, ESQ. Adelson & Associates, LLC / Executive Employment Attorney 101 Federal Street, 19th Floor Boston, MA 02110 Office: (617) 951-9980 EXT. 205 Mobile : (617) 875-8665 FAX: (617) 951-0048 E-mail: [email protected] Blog: https://robadelson.wordpress.com/ Twitter: @AttorneyAdelson Webpage : www.executiveemploymentattorney.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-adelson-b8a1557/  On September 7, 2019, CEOWorld magazine published an article I wrote on “CFO Employment Contract – Terms and Negotiations” The magazine advised me that I can use “Featured in the CEOWORLD magazine” and the CEOWORLD “Logo” on my website. The editor has also advised that I can add CEOWORLD magazine in my LinkedIn profile’s “Experience Section” as an “Opinion Columnist.” and authority in the field.  This article is designed for designed for Chief Financial Officers (CFOs)
To see my full CEOWorld magazine. article, go to my website at https://www.executiveemploymentattorney.com/cfo-employment-contract-terms-and-negotiations With more than 12.4+ million-page views, CEOWORLD magazine is the world’s leading business magazine written strictly for CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, senior management executives, business leaders, and high net worth individuals worldwide. It is my hope that this article will be helpful to CFOs or CFOs who also take on the COO role with need to review the job offer or employment contract including special circumstances included in the position. If you or any colleague of yours has a need in this area, please do reach out to me at [email protected]. |
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