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].

This article is designed for 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 your current company might provide a significant retention package for you to stay.

This frequently occurs when the company is “in play”.  However, besides this change of control situation, my article discusses a number of other circumstances where executive retention negotiations occur, including where:

• The company is nearing a critical milestone, necessary for a funding round,
• The company is planning its IPO and needs an executive lockup,
• The executive has close relationships with key accounts and the company fears a significant loss of business,
• The executive has close relationships with key management and performers in the company and fears a significant attrition,
• The executive as an inventor, innovator and technologist has a critical role in product creation, maintenance or development, or
• The executive has achieved a level of notoriety such that his or her loss could have a negative impact on perception of the company within the customer or business community where the company operates.

My article also discusses how to raise the issue of executive retention, how to negotiate and frame the executive retention package as a mutually beneficial “win-win” for the executive and the company, and finally the key terms to seek in your executive retention agreement.

To see my full CEOWorld magazine. article, go to LINK:  https://ceoworld.biz/2019/04/26/negotiating-executive-retention-agreement-terms-to-protect-your-interests/
Or on my website https://www.executiveemploymentattorney.com/executive-retention-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.

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].

Robert A. Adelson, Esq. is a business and tax attorney, and partner in the firm Engel & Schultz LLP in Boston, MA.  He has an advanced LLM degree in the law of Taxation from NYU and has for more than 20 years represented CEOs, C-Suite and senior executives across the country in issues of senior executive employment including terms of equity, executive compensation package, severance agreement, change of control, restrictive covenants and other key executive issues. 

This is an article of mine published  March 27, 2013 on my website at https://www.executiveemploymentattorney.com/articles-section/executive-severance-package/  along with other articles of mine at https://www.executiveemploymentattorney.com/articles-section/

The article indicates how a severance agreement protects executives employed on an at-will or other basis in the event of termination without good cause, and that it is wise to provide for severance terms in an employment agreement or offer sheet at the outset of employment. However, a severance agreement can be made at any time throughout the employment of the executive.

The article further indicates how severance agreements address continuation of salary and  also address other issues that might be very important to the executive including

• Continuation of health and other key benefits,
• Payment of bonus, or prorated bonus
• Vesting and other rights in stock, options or phantom stock of the company
• Protections for the executive’s reputation

Finally, the article also address items the employer may seek including non-competes, releases and waivers and negotiation strategies for executives on such items.

• Are you are an employee or executive reviewing a job offer or employment agreement with or without severance terms and need advice on terms or its enforceability?
• Have you been terminated or face termination and have similar concerns?
• Have you received a severance agreement and need advice on its terms or what to seek in negotiations?

​In any of those cases, if  you have questions or need assistance, please email me at [email protected] or call 617-875-8665.

About Executive Employment Attorney Robert Adelson, Esq.
Robert A. Adelson, Esq. has been a corporate, tax and employment attorney since 1977. He graduated Northwestern Law School in Chicago, Law Review, and holds an LL.M. degree in Taxation from NYU. He began as an associate at nationally prominent New York City mega law firms, Dewey Ballantine and Weil Gotshal & Manges. For over 20 years, Adelson has been a partner in small and medium sized Boston law firms, representing CEOs and senior executives on employment, executive compensation, equity and separation matters.

Despite significant advances in employment laws, gender inequality remains an area of both concern and controversy. Women continue to lag behind men, even at the CEO, C-suite and senior executive level, when it comes to compensation, opportunity for advancement, job status and equity sharing, to name just a few.

Many women still have to prove themselves as trail blazers for their gender in all-male executive management teams that still operate as the “old boys club” with a locker room mentality toward women.

This article discusses hurdles faced today by women with regard to

• Hiring – achieving equal pay, benefits and other key terms in hiring
• Change of Control – achieving equal treatment for contributions made that have brought about a successful exit and change of control for the company
• Harassment & Termination – Circumstances where despite their professional attitude and achievements, women are not judged on merit, but instead face gender-based workplace harassment, threatened and even actual employment termination.

In each instance this article discusses not only these circumstances but also actions for women CEOs and senior executives to take to protect their interests, obtain their proper rights and benefits, and continue their path of career advancement.

My article on this subject was published March 27, 2017 by CEOWorld magazine.
To see my full article, go to Executive Employment Contracts for Women CEOs

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 the goal of this article and my work in this field to aid women CEOs and senior executives in facing these special challenges when they arise and overcoming these challenges while keeping their careers on the upward trajectory.  If you or any colleague of yours has a need in this area, please do reach out to me at [email protected].

You are the CEO or a C-suite officer or senior executive and you’ve been putting your heart and soul into the job. You’ve been meeting your deadlines, meeting your targets. You’re in line for a decent bonus or raise. Yet, instead of praise and reward, one day you are summoned to meet the Chairman or the CEO. HR is there also and you are told the Company is going to go “in a new direction” and your services are no longer needed. What do you do?

My recent article deals with this difficult subject –

• What is wrongful termination?
  
• What are your rights if this happens to you?
• Negotiating severance terms as a CEO or C-suite executive
  

This is a subject I deal with a lot in my executive legal practice with many accomplished executives who are often victims of their own success. These are often cases where office politics, cronyism or sexism has trumped merit and real achievements in the workplace. But the problem can be dealt with and often decent results achieved.

My article on this subject was published on January 18, 2017 by CEOWorld magazine. You can also see the full article on wrongful termination for executives on my website.

If you or one of your colleagues has been terminated or faces potential wrongful termination I am glad to help preserve your interests and protect your rights. Please do reach out to me at [email protected] or call 617-875-8665.