Negotiating Your Executive Severance Package

 

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 Agreement

Whether 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 Contract

My 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 LLC

What 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 24th

This 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 : rob@attorneyadelson.com
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.

Negotiating Terms of Your Corporate Relocation Package - A Guide for Executives

 

April 2026 Edition

I hope you are enjoying the longer days and later sunsets that beckon the arrival of spring. In April we will have the running of the Boston Marathon and also the 251st anniversary of the starting battle of the American Revolution. A year ago on April 19, I attended “AmRev250” In Lexington. There I witnessed minutemen reenactors recall the seminal events of April ‘75…. 1775, when the embattled farmers stood and fired the shot heard round the world … the Battle of Lexington and Concord, where it all began.

April 3rd also saw a glorious home opener to the Red Sox season at chilly Fenway Park. With strong starting pitching by Sonny Gray, the Sox triumphed 5–2. It was similar in the season opener behind strong starting pitching by ace Garret Crochet and wise use of the new Automated Balls & Strikes (ABS) system by Roman Anthony to change a 9th inning strikeout to a walk that led to two more runs in a 3–0 win at Cincinnati. But other than those two openers, the Sox have lost all their other games. With a 2–8 record, our Red Sox have the worst record of 30 MLB teams. Fortunately, there remain 152 games for Alex Cora to get our club to winning form.

On a much brighter note, both Boston winter teams appear playoff bound. With 4 games to go, the Bruins are on good position for an Eastern Conference Wild Card birth. And the Celtics even better!

Also with 4 regular season games to play, the Celtics appear locked for the 2nd seed in their Eastern Conference. The C’s are hot — 10 wins in the last 12 games. The club had been sparked not only by the fabulous return of star Jayson Tatum, but also the continued strong MVP style play all season by Jaylen Brown, plus strong contributions by veterans Derrick White, Payton Prichard and our “big man” Neemias Queta (the NBA’s first ever player from Portugal). So, if we can stay healthy, hopes are high, the C’s may reach the finals and potentially a 19th championship banner to raise to the rafters of TD Garden. We shall see.

As for Newsletter items, last week, eight days ago on March 30, IVYEXEC career advancement website published an article of mine on negotiating your corporate relocation package. Further into this April Newsletter, item #3 is an older article of mine published in CEOWORLD magazine on the issue of incentive compensation misalignment for CEOs and senior executives, particularly vs the interest of investors in an M&A, turnaround or change of control future event. The 4th Newsletter item is another older article of mine published by CEOWORLD on negotiating a custom executive compensation package when you, as C-level or senior executive, get a new job offer or a retention situation. The last Newsletter item, item #5 is a special offer on negotiation of C-level and senior executive job offers.

As always, I hope some of these items might be of interest and benefit… and best wishes to all for the rest of April!

1. Terms to Seek in Your Relocation Package

Relocation can involve significant risks to you and your family, especially if the job turns out to be not at all what you expected it to be or, in any case, it just does not work out, and you are left high and dry in a place you do not want to be. My article new published by CEOWorld, offers risk mitigation strategies, as well as important tax and business terms to seek in your relocation package. 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. Protecting yourself against Executive Compensation Misalignment

Are you a C-level or a senior executive with performance compensation based on cliff vesting? Is your performance opportunity subject to discretionary actions of an owner, a Board of Directors or the investors, whose interests might at some point become averse to your own? That situation — executive compensation misalignment — was the root cause of the biggest scandal in US sports history. Due to that misalignment, star players of the Chicago White Sox fixed the 1919 World Series. That example and others are discussed in my article published by CEOWORLD Magazine 3/31/2021 to coincide with MLB Opening Day. My article is reposted now to coincide with April, the first full month of the 2026 Major League Baseball season, to offer ways for you, as a CEO or other top executive, to avoid such harmful misalignment in your own executive compensation negotiations. Read the Article Here

4. Negotiating a Custom Executive Compensation Package

Do you have a job offer as CEO or C-level executive with a startup company? Or in a turnaround situation? Or in a situation where you fill critical needs of the new employer? My CEOWORLD article, published in November 2020, suggests the terms you should seek in negotiating a custom executive compensation package, how much equity to seek, and how best to secure company acceptance for a custom compensation package. Read the Article Here

5. 4/2026 Offer: Good until April 28th

This 3-week value-packed offer, is as a way to get introduced to my law work: Executive Employment Job Offer Law Diagnostic — this offer is good through 4/28/26. 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 : rob@attorneyadelson.com
Blog: https://robadelson.wordpress.com/
X: @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.

Transformation Executive Officer Role: Risks & Protection

March 2026 Edition

March began with big snow falls but the weather has warmed of late.  I suspect winter is not yet ready to let us go.  For those like my wife who relishes her winter sports, I do hope there will be sufficient snow and ice this last month of winter.  For those like me who look forward to warmer weather, perhaps you will get a chance to sneak off for time in the sun in warmer places.

March has seen good times for Boston winter sports. The Celtics have had a very strong season and Jason Tatum has now returned to the team with a very promising opening night and follow-up with a big Celtics win in Cleveland Sunday.  The Bruins too have played fairly well winning at home losing on the road and in a Wild Card spot if the season ended today.  So perhaps as March and April unfold, this will mean playoff runs for both teams, and perhaps a deep run for the Celtics and a return to the NBA finals.

March Madness too will soon begin and to all with your brackets and betting favorites, and for those out there with alma maters in the NCAA Basketball Tournament – all best of luck! For my two tournament-eligible alma maters, this has not been a good year for the Northwestern Wildcats.  However, for my other alma mater Boston University offers real hope with Joe Jones’ overachieving squad.  Sunday night, BU’s Chance Gladden hit a buzzer beater. a 40-foot bomb, to overcome top ranked Navy 73-72.  Navy was a huge favorite, the Midshipmen having beaten BU twice this season and riding a 14-game winning streak into this game played in Annapolis.  Now, BU gets to play Lehigh for the Patriot League championship tomorrow night (3/11/26) in Bethlehem, PA.  If the Terriers win,  it would mark BU’s first invitation to the NCAA Tournament – March Madness - since 2020.  Here’s hoping – Go Terriers!

As for Newsletter items, last Friday, CEOWORLD magazine published an article of mine on Chief Transformation Officers – risks and protections.  Further into this March Newsletter, items #3 and #4 are two older articles of mine, both published in IVYEXEC career advancement website, #3 published in 2022 on leveraging  your strengths in negotiating for key terms in executive retention packages, #4 published in 2024 on getting executive severance even when you quit your position.  Item #5 is a special offer also on executive retention. As always, I hope some of these items might be of interest and benefit…  and my best wishes to all for the rest of March!

1.       Transformation Executive Officer Role:  Risks & Protections

If you are in the market for or are considering  a job offer to be a Chief Transformation Officer or Chief Innovation Officer, my article published last Friday (March 6), may be of benefit as I discuss key risks posed to you by those positions and also important protections and other terms to seek in your negotiations. 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.      Executive Retention Packages – Terms and Negotiations

Do you have now, or Do you soon expect an attractive job offer to leave your CEO or senior executive position?  Is your company “in play”?  Are you nearing a funding milestone?  Are there other reasons why your company has dependence on you and strong desire for you not to leave now.  My article, published in 2022 by IVY EXEC career advancement website, discusses the negotiation and terms for retention agreements in those and other circumstances for the executive seeking to realize benefit from the company’s retention need when such opportunities are presented. Read the Article Here

4.       Getting Executive Severance when you Choose to Quit

Are you thinking of quitting your current executive position, but don’t want to leave empty-handed? My article published in Jan. 2024  by IVYEXEC career advancement website, speaks to senior executives who, for reasons beyond their control, want to quit your current position and then strategies how to still seek appropriate executive severance compensation in connection with your separation. Read the Article Here

5.       3/2026 Offer:  Good until March 24th

This 2-week value-packed offer, is as a way to get introduced to my law work: an Executive Employment Retention Law Diagnostic – this offer is good through 3/24/26. 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, LLCExecutive Employment Attorney

101 Federal Street, 19th Floor, Boston, MA 02110

(617) 204-5601 Law Firm

(617) 204-5602 Direct

(617) 204-5604 Fax

Email :  rob@attorneyadelson.com

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, 19^th Floor, across the street from the pre-2020 offices at One Federal Street, 21^st Floor, in Boston’s Financial District.

Legal and Careers Considerations for Executive Board Service

 

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, LLCExecutive Employment Attorney

101 Federal Street, 19th Floor, Boston, MA 02110

(617) 204-5601 Law Firm

(617) 204-5602 Direct

(617) 204-5604 Fax

Email :  rob@attorneyadelson.com

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, 19^th Floor, across the street from the pre-2020 offices at One Federal Street, 21^st Floor, in Boston’s Financial District.