Employment contracts can control the beginning – and end – of an employment relationship. When a company first hires you, they might ask you to sign a stack of papers, including contracts, agreements, covenants not to compete, and more. These agreements can impact not only your compensation, but also how and when the company can fire you and even what you can do after you leave the company. These documents can affect your career and income for years. You should understand fully any employment agreement before signing.
Another thing to consider before signing is whether to try to negotiate for a better deal. The best time to negotiate confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements is usually when you’re negotiating the other terms of your employment – not at the end when your employment relationship has gone awry.
Our attorneys have years of experience advising clients and negotiating employment contracts, such as:
- Executive employment agreements
- Non-competition agreements
- Non-solicitation agreements
- Non-disclosure agreements
- Severance & separation agreements
- Mandatory arbitration
Executive Employment Agreements
Employment agreements for corporate executives can be complex. These agreements include complicated compensation structures and post-employment restrictions that could have lasting implications on your career: Forfeiture clauses; restrictive covenants; claw-backs; non-ERISA vs ERISA plans. Read more »
Non-Compete Agreements
Employment agreements may contain covenants not to compete, which restrict your employment options upon separation. Generally speaking, it’s not illegal – or uncommon - for a company to ask its employees to sign a non-compete agreement after hiring them. Read more »
Non-Solicitation Agreements
Under a non-solicitation agreement – also known as a “no poach” agreement -- an employee agrees not to “solicit” the company’s other employees to leave the company. A non-solicitation clause could also refer to an employee’s agreement not to “solicit” the company’s clients or customers or to encourage them to leave the company. But what happens if a current company employee solicits a former employee? Or if a current company client reaches out to a former company employee? The facts of your situation, and the law of your state, will influence what a former employee can and cannot do after signing a non-solicitation agreement.
Separation Agreements
Successful separation negotiations aren’t just about severance pay. Although we always want to maximize benefits for our client, a good separation agreement also looks to minimize the impact of the separation on your future and give significant immediate value in the transition to new employment. Read more »
