Executive Employment Agreement – An Overview for the Newly-Minted CEO or C-Suite Executive

A week ago, on March 31, 2020, CEOWorld magazine published an article I wrote on “Executive Employment Agreement – An Overview for the Newly-Minted CEO or C-Suite Executive”.  The magazine advised me that I can use “Featured in the CEOWOLRD magazine” and the CEOWORLD “Logo” on my website.

This was my 26th 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. The magazine has also created a library of my articles on its website, where you can click on and access any of my more than 20 articles with CEOWORLD, published in recent years beginning in 2016.  See https://ceoworld.biz/author/robert-adelson/

This article, my most recent, published March 31st, is designed for CEOs, C-level and senior executives, especially those who receive an executive job offer or employment contract for their first CEO or C-level position.  The article provides answers and explanations on these important questions:

• What is an executive employment agreement?
• Why is this agreement important to the company?
• Why is this agreement important to you?
• What are the key terms and conditions that you should focus on?
• How do you achieve success in negotiating these executive contract terms?

The article also includes a brief discussion of key terms to seek in a CEO or C-suite employment agreement including terms on the following:

• Position, duties and authority,
• Executive compensation and bonus structure,
• Tax-favored executive equity and/or LTIs,
• Severance terms and triggers,
• Noncompete and other restrictive covenants.

To see my full CEOWorld magazine. article, go to LINK:

https://ceoworld.biz/2020/03/31/executive-employment-agreement-an-overview-for-the-newly-minted-ceo-or-c-suite-executive/

Or on my website at https://www.executiveemploymentattorney.com/executive-employment-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.

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 newly-minted CEOs, COOs, CMOs, other C-Level and senior executives to understand the importance of their first executive employment agreement and to aid them in the negotiation for appropriate terms commensurate with the position each is offered. If you or any colleague of yours has a need in this area, please do reach out to me at rob@attorneyadelson.com.

Author: Robert Adelson

Robert Adelson has been a corporate and tax attorney since 1977. He began as an associate at nationally prominent New York City “mega” law firms, first at the Wall Street firm Dewey Ballantine Bushby Palmer & Wood and later at the Park Avenue firm Weil Gotshal & Manges. In 1985, Adelson returned home, where he has since established himself as a respected Boston business attorney. He has attained partner at several small and midsize Boston law firms, most recently at Lawson & Weitzen LLP and then Zimble Brettler LLP, where he was a partner from 1994 to 2004 before becoming a partner at Engel & Schultz LLP from 2004 to 2019. With the breakup of that firm over semi-retirement of senior partners, Robert Adelson formed the firm Adelson & Associates, LLC, where he is the principal, that commenced operations 1/1/2020.

Restricted stock can be offered in lieu of cash to deliver immediate value with a strike price

Restricted stock can be offered in lieu of cash to deliver immediate value with a strike price much less than current fair market value. For senior recruits, technical or executive, you want to offer more to beat the competition – restricted stock does this. Robert Adelson, an executive compensation attorney, negotiates executive compensation; in one representative case, he worked with executive Steve Miles* to set up a vesting schedule to later grant him compensation in the form of stock.

By using its stock, the company avoided cash cost, and stock offers key advantages that make equity more valuable to employees than cash. Some of these benefits are:

• Pre-IPO stock is valued at discount, and all stock is awarded without brokerage charge;
• Stock offers the potential for considerable appreciation that cash lacks;
• Appreciation is taxable at lower capital gains rates of 20%, with no withholding;
• Stock offers the potential for future roll-over so that tax may be deferred indefinitely.

In addition, restricted stockholders usually provide voting rights. As a result of the benefits of restricted stock, the use of this form of employee compensation has become very popular. Since the issue of founders' shares is deductible, the company can save money that would have gone to taxes by using stock for pay. The tax windfall can also be used creatively to enhance efforts to recruit or retain key people. This is done by sharing the company's tax windfall with employees. As an executive employment attorney, Robert Adelson works with C-level executives everyday and sees that when growth is the priority, cash savings are important, and building the team is critical – stock options provide lucrative advantages for both the company and the executive.

When working with executive Steve Miles, Robert Adelson negotiated his employment compensation and set up a several year vesting plan with attainable restrictions. This allowed the company to avoid cash cost and gave Mr. Miles compensation to work and look forward to down the road. Attorney Adelson also worked with the Company to grant Mr. Miles voting rights, like any other shareholder would have. A main advantage with restricted stocks is that they differ from other stock options and still retain some value if the price were to go down.

Attorney Robert Adelson frequently represents employees and executives negotiating their executive contract terms, stock, options, relocation, non-competes, termination and separation agreements. He also represents startup and smaller companies in software, medical device and other technology-based fields, independent consultants with compensation and stockholder arrangements, incorporation and liability protection, intellectual property protection, and in vendor, client and subcontractor contracting arrangements. Executive Steve Miles was a key employee and through the negotiation of his executive employment agreement; Attorney Adelson was able to grant him a lucrative and flexible form of executive compensation.

*All dates, client’s names and companies have been altered to keep confidentiality.

Adelson & Associates, LLC: New law firm and address, but Continuity in my Growing Law Practice for 2020 and Beyond

We begin this new year 2020 with a new law firm and a new downtown Boston address, but, at the same time, with full continuity for my growing law practice, which saw its best year in 2019.

Here is more information on the new firm:

Robert A. Adelson is now the Principal of Adelson & Associates, LLC.  For fifteen (15) years, from October 2004 through December 2019, Robert Adelson practiced law as a partner of Engel & Schultz, LLP, and at the same time referred legal work to his associates, that is to trusted and experienced colleagues of Mr. Adelson’s including several of his former law partners. However, in December 2019, the lead partners of the Engel & Schultz LLP law 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 law firm’s operations on January 1, 2020, with the new law firm, Adelson & Associates, LLC, from that date and going forward, taking over all current Robert Adelson clients and matters, as well as all referral of legal work to associates of Robert Adelson.

Commencing tomorrow, 1/15/2020, the address for the new law firm Adelson & Associates, LLC will be 101 Federal Street, Suite 1900, Boston, MA 02110 (another premier Class A office building across the street from our prior building, One Federal Street, with our new offices, this time, on the 19th floor rather than the 21st floor).
The office phone number (617-951-9980 ext 205) and fax number (617-951-0048) are, for the present, those of Engel & Schultz LLP.  However, by the end of January 2020, it is expected the new office phone and fax for Adelson & Associates, LLC will be in place.  If any question arises in this period, when trying to reach Robert Adelson by phone, please use the direct Mobile phone number which remains unchanged and will continue in full use now and going forward  (617-875-8665).

The email for Robert Adelson ( radelson@engelschultz.com ) is, for the present, his  Engel & Schultz LLP email.  The new domain for Adelson & Associates, LLC has been established, and Robert Adelson’s new email is rob@attorneyadelson.com.  However, the seamless migration of radelson@engelshultz.com to rob@attorneyadelson.com  has not yet been completed.  By the end of January 2020, it is expected that the email migration will be completed.  So, until you are advised that the email migration has been completed or you begin to receive email from the new email address, please continue to use radelson@engelshultz.com for all email communications to Robert Adelson.

Our website remains essentially unchanged, with the same internet address – www.executiveemploymentattorney.com.  In marketing, our new shingle and brand will give greater emphasis to my website and marketing emphasis:  “Adelson & Associates, LLC – Executive Employment Attorney.”  The webpage, established for me at CEOWorld magazine, too will remain largely unchanged.  The web address remains –http://ceoworld.biz/author/robert-adelson/ .  At that address, you will have a link to over twenty-five (25) articles Robert Adelson has written over the last few years and published in CEOWorld magazine.  These are articles on executive job offers, restricted stock and stock options, RSUs, executive bonus structures, change of control, executive retention agreements, wrongful termination and constructive termination and many other subjects of interest to CEOs, CFOs, CSOs, CTOs, COOs, VPs and other senior executives in industries ranging from financial institutions, retailers and manufacturers to software, medical devices and biotechnology companies.  From his contributions, Robert Adelson has been recognized by the magazine as an opinion columnist and authority in this field for the CEOWORLD Magazine.

At the same time, Robert Adelson continues to represent a number of small companies, company founders, entrepreneurs and independent consultants.  That will not change. Robert Adelson will continue those representations and accept new clients in those areas who seek me out. However, the Adelson & Associates, LLC marketing emphasis and the majority of its law practice growth is expected to occur in the representation of CEOs, C-level and senior executive in executive employment, executive equity compensation, retention and separation situations.

It has been our pleasure to serve you over the past 15 years under the firm name Engel & Schultz LLP, and we very much look forward to continuing to serve you under our new shingle, Adelson & Associates, LLC.

If you have a question or comment on my new law firm, please don’t hesitate to call or email Robert Adelson.  Also, if business or pleasure finds you in the Post Office Square area of Boston’s downtown Financial District, and you would like to check out our new offices, please give a call or shoot us an email, and, as Ernie Boch Jr would say, “Come on down!”

Best regards,
Rob Adelson
ROBERT A. ADELSON, ESQ.
Adelson & Associates, LLC / Executive Employment Attorney
101 Federal Street, 19th Floor
Boston, MA 02110
Office: (617) 951-9980 EXT. 205
Mobile :  (617) 875-8665
FAX:  (617) 951-0048
E-mail:  radelson@engelschultz.com
Blog:  https://robadelson.wordpress.com/
Twitter:  @AttorneyAdelson
Webpage : www.executiveemploymentattorney.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-adelson-b8a1557/

Executive Equity Compensation in Severance Negotiations

A week ago, on October 30, 2019, CEOWorld magazine published an article I wrote on “Executive Equity Compensation in Severance Negotiations”.  The magazine advised me that I can use “Featured in the CEOWOLRD magazine” and the CEOWORLD “Logo” on my website.

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 radelson@engelschultz.com.

Executive Compensation in a Pre-IPO Company

On October 1, 2019, CEOWorld magazine published an article I wrote on “Executive Compensation in a Pre-IPO Company.”   The magazine advised me that I can use “Featured in the CEOWORLD magazine” and the CEOWORLD “Logo” on my website.

This was my 24th 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.  

This article, my most recent, published October 1, is designed for C-level and senior executives in private companies that are planning for or soon contemplate an initial public offering.  The article discusses executive compensation in public companies, then executive compensation in private companies and the transition from a private company to a public company.
​
The article offers further tips to the executive facing and negotiating that transition including

• What should you do to protect your interests?
• How much should you be paid?
• How do you structure your equity compensation as the value of the stock increases?
•  What other equity-related terms to seek before the IPO?

The article concludes with discussion of issues to consider post-IPO.

To see my full CEOWorld magazine. article, go to LINK:
https://ceoworld.biz/2019/10/01/executive-compensation-in-a-pre-ipo-company/
Or on my website at https://www.executiveemploymentattorney.com/executive-compensation-in-a-pre-ipo-company/

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, COOs, CMOs, other C-Level and senior executives in pre-IPO companies may benefit from this article. If you or any colleague of yours has a need in this area, please do reach out to me at radelson@engelschultz.com.

CFO Employment Contract — Terms and Negotiations

On September 7, 2019, CEOWorld magazine published an article I wrote on “CFO Employment Contract — Terms and Negotiations” The magazine advised me that I can use “Featured in the CEOWORLD magazine” and the CEOWORLD “Logo” on my website. 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.

This article is designed for designed for Chief Financial Officers (CFOs)

• Hired to focus on external financial matters such as fundraising, IPO or company sale, interfacing with the Board of Directors, or
• Hired to focus on internal accounting and finance operations, and
• Who also take on the role of chief operating officer (COO) as well, Chief Operating Officers (COOs) hired to oversee other areas of company operations, including production, marketing and sales, and research and development.

The article covers delineation of responsibilities and resources to do the job, terms to seek in your cash executive compensation package, the various forms of equity to seek depending on the position of the company, terms to include in severance and suggestions on both job offers and re-negotiation of executive contract terms.

To see my full CEOWorld magazine. article, go to my website at https://www.executiveemploymentattorney.com/cfo-employment-contract-terms-and-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.

It is my hope that this article will be helpful to CFOs or CFOs who also take on the COO role with need to review the job offer or employment contract including special circumstances included in the position. If you or any colleague of yours has a need in this area, please do reach out to me at radelson@engelschultz.com.

The “golden keys” that unlock “golden handcuffs”

Executive employment agreements and equity arrangements are the “golden keys” that unlock “golden handcuffs”. Signing bonuses serve as the key to open the door to hiring. Vesting options, bonuses and other “golden handcuff” benefits make executives more reluctant to leave their current position for a new one. However, signing bonuses are often used as a tool of persuasion – urging an executive to sign with a new company. Signing bonuses are crucial when accompanying a job offer that has a lower salary than an executive wants.

CEO, Maria Leone* sought out the counsel of Attorney Robert Adelson who helped her negotiate an increased signing bonus with a new firm that expressed interest in hiring her. Maria Leone was currently working as a CEO at a NY ad agency where she made a comfortable salary with foreseeable bonuses and vesting options, however when a young, rising agency (we will call Marketing X*) expressed interest with a higher salary Maria grew interested. Since the Marketing X was still young, and the salary the company was offering was not substantially higher Maria wanted to explore her options and negotiate her executive contract terms.

Attorney Adelson negotiated the executive’s employment agreement as well as her equity arrangements, convincing Marketing X to set up a package with stock and options to reward Maria’s loyalty later down the road. Attorney Adelson also negotiated a substantial increase in the signing bonus and an increased salary as well. The signing bonuses and equity arrangements that Marketing X arranged from Maria Leone helped make her particular transition between companies smooth and lucrative, making Maria whole for what she lost when leaving her current position.

Robert Adelson was successful with this representative case because he applied his over 30 years experience, care and time to help Maria Leone achieve a more desirable position. As a Boston executive employment attorney, with clients across the country, Attorney Adelson has helped many executives negotiate signing bonuses and employment agreements. This representative case highlights the success that Attorney Adelson’s executive compensation negotiations led to for CEO Maria Leone.

*All dates, client’s names and companies have been altered to keep confidentiality.