When you hold a C-suite role, whether that’s CEO, CFO, COO, or General Counsel, your job comes with a high level of responsibility, compensation, and public visibility. The agreements you sign at this level affect your income, career path, and reputation long after you leave the company.
We represent senior executives throughout their employment life cycle, from contract review and negotiation to exit strategies and post-employment restrictions. If you’re taking on a new role or transitioning out of one, having the right legal support matters. It can make a meaningful difference in how you start or end that chapter.
Executive Contracts: What We Look Out For
Your employment agreement should reflect your value to the company and provide clear terms for your role. However, many contracts are drafted in a way that gives the employer too much control or leaves key issues unresolved. We help level the playing field by reviewing, negotiating, and advising on contracts that often include:
- Salary and bonus structure
- Equity awards, stock options, and deferred compensation
- Roles, responsibilities, and who you report to
- Termination provisions, including what counts as “for cause”
- Conditions tied to mergers or changes in ownership
We walk you through what’s standard, what’s negotiable, and what could leave you vulnerable. Whether you’re joining a startup or a Fortune 500 company, the fine print matters, and we’ll help you avoid surprises down the road.
Severance and Exit Strategies
Exiting a leadership role doesn’t always come with a clean break. Whether you’re leaving on your own terms or being pushed out, it’s important to protect your rights and reputation. We work with executives on exit strategies that account for both short-term needs and long-term goals.
That includes reviewing or drafting:
- Severance agreements
- Terms around confidentiality and non-disparagement
- Continuation of benefits or vesting schedules
- Transitional duties or consulting roles
We’ll help you avoid future disputes by ensuring expectations are clearly outlined and that any compensation owed is properly calculated and delivered.
Non-Competes, NDAs, and Restrictive Covenants
Executives are often subject to a web of post-employment restrictions. Some are enforceable; others are not. We evaluate the scope and fairness of any agreement that could affect your ability to take your next job or start a new venture.
We’ll review provisions such as:
- Non-compete clauses: How long they last, what regions they cover, and what kind of work they restrict
- Non-solicitation agreements: Whether you can contact former clients or coworkers
- Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs): What information you must keep confidential and for how long
Our goal is to make sure these agreements don’t unfairly limit your future opportunities. If the terms are too broad or unclear, we’ll push back or work to modify them.
Internal Investigations and Board-Level Issues
If you’re caught in the middle of an internal investigation or even just asked to respond to one, it’s important to proceed carefully. At the executive level, these situations can have ripple effects that impact your career, even if you’ve done nothing wrong.
We provide confidential legal guidance during:
- Internal audits or compliance inquiries
- Ethics investigations
- Board-level reviews
- Allegations involving corporate policy or misconduct
We’ll help you communicate appropriately, preserve your rights, and avoid unintended consequences. These matters require focus and discretion, and you shouldn’t go through them alone.
Why Having Representation Matters
C-suite jobs come with high stakes. Your decisions are visible. Your contracts are dense. And your departure, voluntary or otherwise, can get complicated quickly. Having someone in your corner can help you take control of the situation and avoid giving up ground unnecessarily.
We don’t just look at what’s on paper. We consider the bigger picture: your goals, your leverage, and your risks. Then we work with you to develop a strategy that puts you in the best position moving forward.
Talk to a C-Suite Employment Attorney Today
Whether you’re stepping into a new executive role or preparing for a departure, we’re here to help. These are high-impact moments in your career, and it’s worth making sure every piece of the agreement works in your favor. Contact Solomon Law Firm, PLLC to discuss how we can support you.