Executives, Entrepreneurs, Founders, Shareholders, Investors and Employees

The Law Offices of Jotham S. Stein P.C. has negotiated (or counseled clients during the negotiation of) numerous employment and founder-related agreements, including executive employment contracts, stock option agreements, change of control agreements, merger agreements, management carve out agreements, non-compete agreements and severance agreements.

Attorneys from the Law Offices of Jotham S. Stein P.C. offer corporate executives, managers, shareholders, investors and employees advice on ways to best protect themselves, and explain the risks of choosing not to do so, before employment begins and/or while the transaction is taking place. Law Offices of Jotham S. Stein P.C. attorneys have counseled numerous of individuals during employment and investment-related negotiations.

Because executives, investors, managers, founders, acquirers, employees, venture capitalists, and others sometimes compete for a limited equity pie, securing counsel early is especially critical in dynamic, deal-driven situations. Frequently, companies and boards produce documents or clauses in the “normal” course of business which drastically restrict their employee/shareholder’s rights.

Protection during the employment relationship may also be important because key company players and high-level executives are sometimes forced out of their jobs, and lose millions of dollars in equity and unvested stock options. Sometimes successful executives lose their jobs for reasons that are economically irrational or appear to make no sense. Even “non-essential” founders are periodically terminated by people who were once their “friends.”

As part of their employment counseling practice, attorneys from the Law Offices of Jotham S. Stein P.C. may advise employees suffering discrimination or harassment in the workplace while the employee is still employed. In addition, they may counsel managers, shareholders, executives and others being forced out while the manager, shareholder or executive is still employed. Early counseling is important. Employees who see “the writing on the wall” and do not seek legal advice sometimes commit classic workplace errors, errors that may debilitate their case if they must later file a lawsuit.

The Law Offices of Jotham S. Stein P.C. also represents executives, entrepreneurs, founders, investors, shareholders and employees in their everyday business lives. For example, the employee or founder as an investor may need representation during a negotiation. Because attorneys from the Law Offices of Jotham S. Stein P.C. have seen their share of relationships go bad, firm attorneys have an appreciation for contract clauses and transactional structures that may minimize the risk of future litigation.

Or, the employee or founder as an investor may suffer at the hands of an unscrupulous stockbroker or financial advisor. Securities laws and the common law may both be implicated and arbitration or litigation might be required.

If you require individual representation, the Law Offices of Jotham S. Stein P.C. may be right for you.