Becoming a Remote Senior Executive

 

August 2026 Edition

We are now well into summer.  Hopefully, you and your family are taking some time to enjoy all of your favorite summer time activities. Whether you most enjoy cookouts, picnics, clambakes, time at the beach and seashore, or the lakes, swimming, sailing, biking, walking, hiking or out at the golf links, attending concerts, I hope you are getting out to enjoy summer weather.  Perhaps too, you’ve been lucky enough to spend one or more evenings taking in a ballgame live at Fenway Park.

The local professional sports scene has witnessed a complete metamorphosis since my July 2026 Executive Employment Newsletter, centered on the season’s progress of our Boston Red Sox.   By early July, the Sox did show signs of life, but still well below .500, and got just one sentence, “The Red Sox after a brief spurt, their surprising sweep of the Yankees, remain mired in last place”.   before moving on to fully discuss the World Cup.

Now, with the World Cup a month behind us, our sports focus has become 24/7 Red Sox.  Since June 22, the Sox have been the hottest team in all baseball.  The Sox won 15 games in a row, tying the franchise longest win streak set 80 years ago in 1946.  I attended the 14th win in that streak, as exciting a game as can be imagined, as the lead changed hands several times, before  the Sox pulled out a 6-5 win, with Chapman stranding two Orioles on base in the 9th, before a boisterous sell out crowd over 37,500 then the largest of the season. 

From June 22 through August 7, the Sox won 33 and lost 5, going from 14 games below .500 in last place, to 13 above .500 and lock on the no. 2 wildcard spot for the post-season playoffs.  This record of winning exceeds Morgan Magic of 1988 which led to the playoffs and the great 10-game road winning streak of 1967 which led that “Impossible Dream” team to an American League pennant.  These Sox still have a long way to go but their impressive revival summons distant historic memories to the all-time season resurrection in Boston sports history – that of the “Miracle Braves” of 1914.  That Boston Braves team began its rise on July 4th, like today’s Sox 14 below .500, mired in 8th and last place, but then winning 52 of the next 68 games to win the National League pennant and then surprise the heavily favorites Philadelphia A’s to win the World Series 4-0.  Matching the Miracle Braves is a tall order, but with all the Sox have accomplished this last month, they are once again relevant and give we fans a real hope for October baseball in Boston and even a shot at the World Series.  In recent days since August 7, the team lost 4 games in a row.  The Sox are still solid in the no.2 Wild Card spot, 9 games over .500 as of Tuesday, so hopefully they will again return to winning baseball from the strong position developed over the last six weeks. 

As for Newsletter items, I have provided links to three of my past articles on executive employment that I hope might be of interest. Item #1 provide a link to an earlier article of mine published by IVYEXEC, the executive career advancement website, in 2023, on the subject of remote work by senior executives.  Item #3 provides a link to a 2025 article of mine published in CEOWORLD magazine designed for attorneys in private practice or in the public sector or already in house for a company, on key terms to seek and for which to negotiate if you are offered the position of Chief Legal Officer (CLO).  Item #4 gives a link to a still earlier CEOWORLD article I wrote on negotiation of payment, equity, benefits, and other terms to achieve your right executive compensation package   There is also a special offer as item #5, an Executive Compensation Law Diagnostic.  I hope some of these items might be of benefit… and my best wishes to all for the rest of August!

1.   Working Remotely as a C-level Executive

Are you tempted by a C-level position in a company with great potential on the West Coast, in Texas or Upper Midwest, but don’t want to give up your home and uproot your family where you are living on the East Coast?  My July 2023 article published by IVYEXEC career advancement website, suggests negotiation strategies to build a comfort level with prospective employers, for those executives who would like to take up an executive employment opportunity as a remote CEO or C-level executive. … 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 Terms of Chief Legal Officer Employment Contract  

Are you an attorney in private practice or in the public sector? or are you already in house counsel for a company? and … are you now considering or already received an offer to be Chief Legal Officer (CLO) in your current company or a different company?  The CLO role will likely be a big step-up for you to a role likely much bigger than the role you have had.  The CLO plays a pivotal role in protecting the company and guiding it forward.  My article, published  in CEOWORLD magazine, a year ago in August 2025, discusses the elevated status of  CLO over that of General Counsel or other in house roles and then goes on to discuss that and the key areas every CLO should consider including your negotiations over your executive agreement terms. Read the Article Here 

4.       Negotiating the Right Executive Compensation Package for You

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 article published by CEOWORLD magazine in October 2018, and still relevant,  may benefit you, as I discuss terms including payment, equity, benefits, and other terms to negotiate in your executive compensation package and how those negotiations can actually enhance your position in the company. Read the Article Here 

5.    8/2026 Offer:  Good until August 27th  

This 2-plus-week value-packed offer, is as a way to get introduced to my law work: : an Executive Compensation Law Diagnostic – this offer is good through 8/27/26. 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. 

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.

Bigger Tax Savings Provided by New Section 1202 Law

 

June 2026 Edition

We are now beginning June, we’ve had some nice weather and hopefully this run of nice weather will continue, ideal for biking, hiking, boating, golf, picnics and enjoying the out of doors, and perhaps some swimming too in the lakes and by month end perhaps the ocean too.

As for New England spectator sports, this has not been the best of times for Boston’ s professional sports scene. June is normally baseball season but so far this has not been a good year for our Red Sox. Craig Breslow has made some fine pitching acquisitions including Sunny Gray (7–1). But last year’s ace Garrett Crochet, is this year’s bust and though Wilson Contreras has been a solid hitting off-season pickup at 1st base, there has been too little offense beyond him. Hence, the home club remains mired in last place.

With both our winter teams bounced in the first round of playoffs, like last month’s newsletter, I say once again when all else fails … there’s soccer. So in June, I will keep an eye on the World Cup to be played in North America for the first time in 32 years. Perhaps some of you will get the chance to see a match at “Boston Stadium”. (Aka Gillette) — if you get that chance at a price you can afford, please do GO!! For me, I have my own great World Cup memory. In 1994, I paid $5.00 and won a raffle at Chestnut Hill mall in Newton, MA- two tickets to a 1994 World Cup match. I attended with my dear friend, the late Hans Fenstermacher. We watched Argentina vs Greece from the high upper deck nose bleed seats of old Foxboro stadium. The legendary Diego Maradona was too much for the Greeks and Hans (a gifted linguist) in fluent Spanish, cheered lustily each of the five Argentine goals. Meanwhile, I sensed ever increasing hostility from our neighbors, almost all frustrated Greek fans in our cheep seats. To alleviate our peril, I regularly rose from my seat, screaming “HELLAS!” … each time evoking thunderous supportive cheers from our section. Hans and I did survive … and gosh what a memory we both shared. I do so miss my friend who sadly passed in January 2024… and for those able to attend this 2026 World Cup, my wish that you too will have a memorable experience.

Additionally, for me, there is another fun June sporting diversion with …Irish hurling. What is Irish Hurling? It’s not Curling a winter Olympic sport played on ice. No. Hurling is played on outdoor grassy fields bigger than US football and soccer fields. Hurling looks like a game of lacrosse, played with a wooden stick called a “hurley” that resembles a lacrosse stock. But the game has much more. It captures elements of baseball (hitting not pitching), rugby and soccer with scoring like US football . Here is link that tells more, a CBS 60 Minutes telecast — “Hurling: Ireland’s National Obsession” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ-TOK2FiI4

Two days ago on Sunday morning, I had breakfast at the Dubliner pub in Boston which had all seven TVs tuned into RTE for us to watch live the Munster Hurling Final. Once again as in June 2025, it was County Cork vs County Limerick, this time at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, jam packed with 44,000 fans on the banks of the River Lee in Cork City. A year ago, I was in the Emerald Isle in the middle of a wonderful June vacation trip. It was a music tour of the West of Ireland led by Aodh Og O’Tuama and Christy Martin, the husband/wife folk music duo “Four Shillings Short”. https://4shillingsshort.com/home (Here’s a link to my favorite song of theirs “The Bumper Sticker Song” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL3eyPlLKKE ) Well, hurling was one of our many highlights when a group of 11 from or tour group were introduced to the sport of hurling, as we all watched in Christy’s words “on the telly” this championship match of arch rivals at Gracie’s Bar, Sligo. That June 2025 encounter was a truly exciting match from Gaelic Grounds, Limerick — the match was level (tied) 17 times in regulation, tied in the 10-minute over time, and finally won by underdog Cork on penalty kicks — truly epic. And once again, two days ago, it was nip and tuck, as Cork led all the way but rarely by more then 3 and in the last minutes Limerick pulled even then ahead in the misty park with intermittent drizzle. In the end the green Treaty men of Limerick on the River Shannon prevailed 24–23 over the red Rebels of Cork on the River Lee. In the Dubliner pub, Sunday morning at 9:00am (2:00pm game-time in Cork), a sizable crowd of divided partisans, had already gathered. Like last year, I along with all of our tour group of 11 had rooted for Cork, (the team of Aodh Og O’Tuama and his father Patrick before him, who had played in the 1940’s with Cork hurling legend Christy Ring), and so Sunday morning I wore a red jersey. I took a seat at the bar joining a contingent of five young women, each working the summer in Boston, each wearing their red Cork jerseys brought from home. There were other Rebel group in red and also several other groups wearing green and rooting for Limerick. We the groups in red, were more numerous but green rooters were louder, and their team, as said, prevailed and in the end it was the captain of the Treaty mem who raised the cup of victory. Despite our loss, here are two further links to Irish folk music performances in 2025 that celebrate Cork hurling, the first by Kingfishr for a local Cork team Killeagh (Live From Cork) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBQ65EBKbdw the second by Ella Ryan, Rebels Rising — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km1_f2rK5AQ Once again, “UP THE REBELS!”

As for Newsletter items, the first item provides a link to an article I wrote published a couple weeks agon on May 27 by CEOWORLD Magazine on a provision of US Tax Law recently expanded that can allow significant and even total exclusion from tax of up to $15 million of gains on pre-IPO stock for CEOs and senior executives who join startup and early stage companies. 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 the implied covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing to protect what you have earned when you are terminated by your employer in bad faith, published earlier this years by IVYEXEC career advancement website. The other article #4 in this newsletter, is an article for senior executives considering, taking on, or continuing in the position of Chief Financial Officer and what to seek and negotiate for in the duties, contract terms, compensation and severance for your CFO position. 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 June!

1. Achieving Zero Taxation on Sale of Your Appreciated Stock

Are you considering joining an early stage company where stock will be an important part of your compensation package? My recent article published on May 27, by CEOWORLD Magazine, discusses how proper structuring of your equity grant as qualified small business stock (QSBS), may enable you to have zero Federal taxation on all of the appreciation on a sale of shares after 5 years. This new article includes tax law changes effective 7/4/25 to shield from tax up to $15 million of income and allow partial exclusion from tax with stock held for 3 years or 4 years. This article also fully discusses no-taxable rollover techniques and merits of rollover if you must sell your shares earlier than 3 years … 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 Your Earnings from Unfair Dealing by Your Employer

As a C-level or senior executive, have you ever faced employment termination or other employer action to prevent you from receiving a bonus, stock vesting or other benefit you earned from your successful achievement of a target objective for the company? My article published in January 2026 by IVYEXEC career advancement website, discusses an important duty or implied covenant in the law that can enable you, even if you are an employee “at will”, to have a valid enforceable claim against your employer to be made whole for what you earned and were deprived of … Read the Article Here

4. Negotiating Your CFO Employment Agreement

If you have a new job offer or employment contract as a CFO or Chief Financial Officer, new article, published in July 2024 by IVYEXEC career advancement website, 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

5. 5/2026 Offer: Good until June 23rd

This 2-week value-packed offer, is as a way to get introduced to my law work: an Executive Employment Separation Law Diagnostic — this offer is good through 6/23/25. 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.

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.

April 2025 Executive Employment Law Newsletter

I hope this email finds you well, that you are enjoying the longer days and later sunsets that beckon the arrival of spring.  In April we will have the Boston Marathon and also “AmRev250”.  So April 19, I hope to get a good viewing spot, to view North Bridge in Concord when Concord, Acton, Bedford and other minutemen reenactors recall the seminal events of April ‘75…. 1775, when the embattled farmers stood and fired the shot heard round the world … yes, the Battle of Lexington and Concord, where it all began.  

Also in April, March Madness continues, with Men’s and Women’s Basketball and Men’s Ice Hockey now down the Finals.  

In men’s basketball, my two Division I alma maters Northwestern and Boston University did not make the tournament, and all no. 1 teams are in Final Four.  No Cinderella teams in the Finals this year. 🙁 But best of luck to all, if your alma mater is still in contention or if you are still in the money with your brackets. 

In Men’s Hockey, a large contingent of Hockey East and Eastern teams contended, but only Boston University  survived to the Frozen Four with a thrilling 3-2 overtime win, last Saturday night, over ancient rival Cornell.  Congrats to Coach Jay Pandolfo:  he’s coached three years, and, in all three, his BU teams have gone to the Frozen Four.  I attended the Frozen Four in Tampa (2023) and St. Paul (2024) but cannot go to 2025 in St. Louis.  We lost those two times, and it is still my hope this 3rd time in a row, will be the charm – good luck Terriers! 

And in  professional sports, one of Boston’s winter teams will both soon start the playoffs.  The Bruins had a awful March (3-11) and will finish their season April 15 far from playoff contention. But the Celtics, happily, have gone in opposite direction.  With a record of 13-1 in March through March 30, we can hope the C’s stay hot as they seek to repeat as NBA champions despite stiff competition.  Despite recent losses we also start the Red Sox season with high hopes after several acquisitions in the off season.  I do look forward to attending Opening Day at Fenway this Friday, with an opening day first:  the Sox will host their frequent past World Series season opponents,  the NL’s formidable St. Louis Cardinals!

As for Newsletter items, last week, IVYEXEC career advancement website published an article of mine on using QSBS to potentially shield from taxation  up to $10 million in gains on executive and angel investor stock. 

Further into this April  Newsletter, item #3 is an older article of mine,  published in CEOWORLD magazine, reposted today, around the time of April Opening Day around the Major Leagues, offers an especially grim and powerful example of misalignment in incentive compensation.  In that case example, incentive compensation misalignment of a baseball team’s  ace starting pitcher sparked the worst episode in Major League Baseball’s almost 150-year history (since the founding of the National League in 1876).  In that infamous episode, the “Black Sox Scandal”, the American League champions, the favored Chicago White Sox, played to lose the World Series.  Star White Sox players accepted cash bribes from Boston and New York based gamblers to “fix” the 1919 World Series in favor of the underdog Cincinnati Reds.  Amid the public uproar, and the grave threat posed to the future of the sport itself, in 1920, the MLB team owners appointed the first-ever  Commissioner of Baseball.  Despite Illinois court cases and acquittals of all the accused players, that new Commissioner delivered baseball’s own verdict. Commissioner Landis ruled “8 Men Out” – the accused eight professional ballplayers were barred from baseball, each of the eight accused lost their livelihoods, thrown out of organized baseball …for life…and it all happened due to misalignment.

That 4th  Newsletter item is another older  article of mine published by IVYEXEC,  on startup C-level executive salary, equity and severance terms.

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.       Achieving Zero Taxation on Sale of Your Appreciated Stock

Are you considering joining an early stage company where stock will be an important part of your compensation package?  My article published ten days ago, on March 21,  by IVYEXEC career advancement website, discusses how proper structuring of your equity grant as qualified small business stock (QSBS), may enable you to have zero Federal taxation on all or most of the appreciation on a sale of shares after 5 years, including several key techniques you might find beneficial… 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 the 2025 MLB season, with opening day around the Najor Leagues last Thursday March 27.  In this CEOWORLD article, I also offer ways for you, as executive, to avoid such harmful misalignment in your own executive compensation negotiations.  Read the Article Here

4.       Startup C-Level Executive Salary, Equity and Severance

Are you a senior executive looking to move up to C-level by joining a startup? Being a startup C-level executive can be rewarding in many ways.  But taking that role has many risks too.  My article published in 2023  by the IVYEXEC career advancement website, advises on key protections to negotiate as well as other terms to seek to ensure that  if the startup succeeds, you too will share financially in that success. Read the Article Here

5.      4/2025 Offer:  Good until April 30th  

This 4-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 4/30/25.   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.

This post was originally published in https://robadelson.wordpress.com/2025/03/29/april-2025-executive-employment-law-newsletter/