Modern business leadership involves high levels of responsibility, pressure and accountability. When an executive leaves a comfortable employment situation to take another position, risk and sacrifice are involved, with stability and earning potential being left behind. As an executive compensation lawyer, I understand these factors and I work to make sure my executive clients receive the strongest possible compensation for their efforts, helping them secure agreements with their employers that protect their short-term and long-term interests while providing a high level of tax efficiency. In this work, I never have a conflict of interest, I represent executives exclusively, never representing a company or employer.
I am committed to protecting the important interests of business executives. Contact me, your executive compensation attorney, at rob@attorneyadelson.com or call 617-875-8665.
Experienced Handling of Core Executive Compensation Issues
With more than 25 years of relevant legal experience, I aid my clients in handling their core compensation issues involving:
Appropriate signing bonuses: I advise on and negotiate signing bonuses that reflect the risk and lost benefits involved in many executive employment transitions, as well as the value you bring to a new employer. Sometimes cash, sometimes equity, this bonus can make you whole for what you are giving up or otherwise compensate you for leaving to a new situation. I also negotiate over claw back terms companies often seek to include.
Competitive base salary: I help executives negotiate market-based salaries commensurate with their responsibility level, their skills and experience, their industry and the size of their organization.
Annual bonus income: Aside from signing bonuses, I help executives secure bonus structures that usually comprise three elements: 1) a basic bonus — a minimum fixed bonus that an executive is paid for doing his or her job; 2) bonuses paid for achievement of specific individual and company performance goals; and 3) “blowout bonuses,” which are paid for exceeding goals.
Executive equity: As a CEO, C-level or senior executive, you do more than just carry out a role in the company. You also contribute to increased company value to the owners and investors. As your counsel, I would seek a meaningful stake in that value you create. In negotiations for such executive equity, I seek an appropriate amount that reflects your contribution and a structure for that equity tax-favored to the extent possible. I would also seek provisions to protect your payout when a liquidity event occurs.
Long term incentives: Where a company cannot or will not provide executive equity, I negotiate terms of phantom stock or other long term incentives that likewise seek for you long term incentives commensurate with the value you bring to the company owners.
Severance protections: A final part of my work for you as your executive compensation attorney, is to negotiate for key executive compensation safeguards should things change adversely on the job. If the company chooses to terminate you without cause or if the company fails to live up to its promises and you quit, I negotiate for severance triggers to protect you. In those case, if severance is triggered, I seek to have in place robust severance terms to protect all or much of your executive compensation package.
For help securing signing bonuses, employee equity and other forms of executive compensation, get in touch with Attorney Robert Adelson, today. I can help you secure the compensation you deserve while protecting your interests. I provide representation and legal advice to business leaders throughout the country. Email me at rob@attorneyadelson.com or call 617-875-8665 to schedule an initial consultation.
Representative Executive Compensation Cases
Some of the executive compensation cases I have worked on:
- CEO of New York advertising agency
- CSO of Massachusetts biotech company
- Vice President of Sales, Florida telecommunications company
- more executive employment cases
My Publications on Executive Compensation
- Negotiating a Custom CEO or C-level Executive Compensation Package
- Restricted Stock And Other Equity Options For Your Executive Compensation Package
- Structuring Bonuses in Your CEO Compensation for Maximum Benefit
- Negotiating the Right Executive Compensation Package for Yourself
- more articles
Robert Adelson, Esq., Executive Compensation Lawyer
Robert Adelson has been a corporate, tax and employment attorney since 1977. He graduated Northwestern Law School in Chicago, Law Review, and holds an LL.M. degree in Taxation from NYU. He began as an associate at nationally prominent New York City “mega” law firms, Dewey Ballantine and Weil Gotshal & Manges. For over 20 years, Adelson has been a partner in small and medium sized Boston law firms, representing CEOs and senior executives on employment, executive compensation, equity and separation matters.
