May 2026 Edition

We are now well into May and after April showers and chilly days, we are now seeing the flowers sprout and many more warm days, with ever later sunsets. Still too early for the beach, but great New England weather for biking, hiking, boating, golf, picnics and enjoying the out of doors.

This has not been the best of times for Boston’ s professional sports scene. The good news was that both the Bruins and Celtics made the playoffs. The bad news was that both our teams went down and out in the first round. The Celtics loss was especially painful. After a 56-win season, as the number 2 seed of the Eastern Conference, the C’s seemed destined for a long playoff run — even more so with the late season return of star forward Jason Tatum. Yet despite a 3 games to 1 series lead, the Celtics lost in 7 games to the ‘76ers, the East’s # 7 seed, and that 7th game loss was on the parquet floor of TD Garden. And things have not gotten better when our region’s sports focus then moved to the Boston Red Sox. The Crimson Hose got off to such a rocky start that by the end of April, long time manager Alex Cora had been fired along with most of his coaching staff. Since then, there has been improvement. Over the last 14 games, up to Tuesday, the Red Sox were 8–6 climbing out of last place. Over that 14-game period the Sox starting rotation posted a 2.99 ERA, tied for fourth-best in baseball in that time. That veteran heavy starting rotation, certainly is our season’s big hope, with a club which is so “challenged” when it comes to offense, especially power hitting. So, as the 2026 MLB season moves on, we cross our fingers for this Sox club Craig Breslow has designed built around the old baseball adage “Good pitching, beats good hitting.” And of course, when all else fails …well, there’s soccer. And for April and May 2026, soccer has been a more pleasant story for the Boston sports scene. The Revolution have been winning at home and our women’s team the Boston Legacy winning all over… my physical therapist at Marathon PT shared with me her excitement attending a recent Legacy game and I will try to interest my daughter to join me for a Legacy game at Gillette. And beyond the two Boston soccer teams, this summer there is the FIFA World Cup! It has been 32 years since the USA and Boston hosted games in the World Cup of “Football”. Now, for sure I’m giving away my age… but in 1994, it was one of my great thrills in spectator sport to view Diego Maradona and Argentina vs Greece from the cheap seats, one of the top row (nose-bleed) sections of old Foxboro Stadium. From that long ago experience, my advice — If you get the chance to attend a World Cup game — GO!

As for Newsletter items, unfortunately I missed my deadline to submit for publication a new article to showcase in this month’s newsletter. So, to fill the gap, I am reposting an older article that my digital marketer Millie Kwan told me is among the most popular of my 54 articles published to date by CEOWORLD Magazine (this one has the most clicks, she says) — I’m hoping you too will enjoy it — the topic “An Executive Severance Agreement Protects Your Employment, Career and Reputation”. A link to that new article is featured as item #1. This newsletter also has links, in items #3 and #4, to two other earlier articles of mine still relevant to CEOs, C-suite and senior executives. The first article discusses using leverage you’ve acquired to renegotiate key terms of your executive employment agreement and executive compensation package, this article of mine published about a year ago at IVYEXEC career advancement website. The second article of mine, published in CEOWORLD in 2022, is on the use of profits interests in LLCs which can be an important item of equity to seek if your company is an LLC or partnership. There is also a special offer as item #5. I hope some of these items might be of benefit… and my best wishes to all for the rest of May!

1. Negotiating Your Executive Severance AgreementWhether you have just received a job offer, have a chance to renegotiate your current contract, or are facing a change of control or termination situation, my CEOWORLD article published in Sept. 2018 but still relevant today, may benefit you, as I discuss key payment, equity, benefits, non-disparagement and other terms to negotiate in your severance package and also how to deal with what your employer may ask of you. 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. Using Leverage to Re-Negotiate Key Terms in Your Employment ContractMy article published last year in IVYEXEC career advancement website describes when the opportunity is right for CEOs or other C-Suite or senior executives to re-negotiate your employment contract and equity after achieving a level of success on the job, plus tips on preparing, what to seek, and how to achieve success in your negotiations. Read the Article Here

4. Negotiating Favorable Executive Equity Terms in an LLCWhat terms do you negotiate for when, as a senior executive, you are offered equity in an LLC? What are the differences in rights and taxation of Profits Interests vs Capital Interests? How can LLC profits interests benefit you more than corporate equity in a case of significant equity appreciation? What are the hidden land mines in LLC Operating Agreements? How do you defuse them? Those topics and more, are discussed in my CEOWORLD magazine article published in 2022. Read the Article Here

5. 5/2026 Offer: Good until May 24thThis 2-week value-packed offer, is as a way to get introduced to my law work: an Executive Employee Equity Law Diagnostic — this offer is good through 5/28/26. 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
E-mail : [email protected]
Blog: https://robadelson.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @AttorneyAdelson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-adelson-b8a1557/
Website: www.executiveemploymentattorney.com
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.

Last Wednesday, on January 4, 2023, the executive career advancement website IvyExec  published an article I wrote on “Severance Compensation Package for Director, VP and C-Level Executives”

This new article is designed not only for CEOs, COOs, CSOs, CTOs and other C-suite and senior executives in technology and life sciences, and also for other senior executives, and in other areas of the economy as well, but even for many VPs, directors and mid-level executives, who at one or more points in your career may face employment termination.  

Termination often comes as result of a change in ownership, control or top management that wants to clean house and bring in their own team, regardless of your success and past contributions.  In that case you might be called in and told “we’ve decided to go in a new direction…” classic code for your job is toast.  Other times a series of changes occur that make it hard for you to continue.

In my new article, I address  the following questions:

1. Why do you need to have a severance package in your executive job offer?
2. When can you later negotiate a severance agreement or package that you could not obtain in your job offer when you joined the company?
3. What is a typical monetary executive severance package for VPs, directors, CEOs, CMOs and other C-level executives?
4. What other non-monetary separation terms should you seek?

My discussion of monetary terms includes not only cash salary and bonus but key equity terms as well, so that a negotiated severance package, regardless of the timing and circumstances, is designed to make you whole for what you are losing with employment termination.

The discussion of non-monetary issues in the severance package includes important issues of Severance Triggers, Restrictive Covenants, Non-disparagement,  and Release of claims.

To see my full IvyExec career advancement website article, go to LINK: https://www.ivyexec.com/career-advice/2023/severance-compensation-package-for-executives/

Or on my website at  https://www.executiveemploymentattorney.com/severance-compensation-package-for-director-vp-and-c-level-executives/

IvyExec hosts articles and webinars from experts in the career, leadership, and business spaces who wish to share their knowledge with our audience.  In April 2021, I was invited to write for IvyExec since it seeks original content on the topics of career development, leadership, and business strategy as it applies to senior-level and C-Suite professionals.  IvyExec blog posts and webinars are shared with its community of more than 2 million members on its website, in its newsletter, and on its social media channels.  https://www.ivyexec.com/career-advice/write-for-us/
IvyExec claims a “Community of 2.5M+ Leaders”. See also  – https://www.ivyexec.com/
​
It is my hope that this article will be helpful to CEOs, CMOs, CSOs, CTOs and other C-suite and senior executives in technology and life sciences, who are being recruited and have now, or anticipate soon receiving, an attractive offer to move on, yet are also critical to their current company, where the current company might provide a significant retention package for the executive to stay.   If you or any colleague of yours has a need in this area, please do reach out to me at [email protected].

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:

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/

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].

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/

This was my 25th 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 October 30, is designed for CEOs, C-level and senior executives, for whom equity can often be the most valuable part of their executive compensation package.  The article addresses the question – what happens to that equity position if you face employment termination – and offers tips for severance negotiations over equity, including

• What to include in your offer letter or executive employment agreement when you join the company?
• What to seek in a change-of-control / retention situation?
• What to negotiate for on employment termination?
• The importance of equity in your severance negotiations.

In discussing equity severance negotiations at the time of employment termination, my article raises using your leverage in employment separation negotiations including

• Legal claims you may have against your company related to wrongful termination of employment,
• Termination transition services and support the company may desire from you,
• Cooperation to sign a lock-up agreement or other documents or actions post-termination.

To see my full CEOWorld magazine. article, go to LINK:
     https://ceoworld.biz/2019/10/30/executive-equity-compensation-in-severance-negotiations/

Or on my website at 
     https://www.executiveemploymentattorney.com/executive-equity-compensation-in-severance-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.

     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 CEOs, COOs, CMOs, other C-Level and senior executives to provide for appropriate terms to protect their equity rights in any present or future severance negotiations.  If you or any colleague of yours has a need in this area, please do reach out to me at [email protected].