Severance & Non-Compete Disputes

Resolution of Severance and Employment Disputes

At the Law Offices of Stanley B. Cheiken in suburban Philadelphia, we represent executive, professional, and key technical employees in the negotiation and enforcement of severance agreements to resolve employment disputes, and in the restructuring or sale of closely-held companies throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

To learn how our experience with the resolution of workplace problems for highly compensated employees can benefit you, contact an experienced attorney.

We represent clients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey who are seeking advice concerning the following issues:

• Severance pay
• Health insurance and COBRA benefits
• Stock options and the liquidation of equity interests
• Non-compete and confidentiality agreements
• Valuation of processes, software or other intellectual property developed by our client
• Waiver of rights with respect to future compensation, commissions, equity interests, and contingent payments, bonuses or benefits
• Indemnification and release on our client's guaranty of business debt, stock pledges, or other personal liability on company obligations
• Negotiation of the specific terms of employment references or public statements concerning our client's departure

Many mergers, sales or dissolutions of closely-held corporations or partnerships have employment law implications for a departing partner or shareholder who plays an active role in the business as an executive or professional. Especially if the departing employee is also a minority owner, the value of his or her stake in the enterprise might depend more on the employment relationship than it does on the ownership interest.

We also represent parties in severance disputes concerning the enforcement of confidentiality or non-compete terms after the execution of a settlement agreement that goes into default, especially in cases where the company defaults on an agreement that calls for payments over time. When our client sues to collect the amounts owed, it is not unusual for the defendant to allege violations of trade secrets or non-compete covenants in order to gain leverage in the contract action. Our experience with the range of possibilities in severance agreement negotiations and litigation can help protect your interests both in the assertion of your own rights and in defense of counterclaims against you.

Sometimes we are asked to review a severance offer that a client has already received, and we generally find that close analysis of your situation will suggest areas where the offer can improve. Our objective is to identify and assign a value to the full range of rights that you're being asked to waive. The first offer tends to overlook a good deal of that value.

For a free consultation about our ability to represent your interests effectively in any negotiation or dispute about the terms of a severance agreement, contact an experienced employment lawyer at the Law Offices of Stanley B. Cheiken in Jenkintown.