Severance Agreement Review

Don’t sign until you know what you’re giving up

If your employer has offered you a severance agreement, you may have only a limited time to decide whether to sign. It can affect much more than the money—releasing legal claims, restricting what you can say about your former employer, limiting where you can work, and even affecting your unemployment benefits.

Before you sign, have an employment lawyer review it. We help you understand what you’re being offered, what you’re giving up, and whether there’s room to negotiate better terms.

or call 865-383-1053

Employment lawyer reviewing a severance agreement

What Our Severance Review Includes

Your review includes a consultation with an employment attorney and a review of your proposed agreement. Together we’ll go through:

  • How much severance you’re being offered
  • Whether the payment appears reasonable for your circumstances
  • What legal claims you may be releasing
  • Confidentiality provisions
  • Nondisparagement provisions
  • Noncompetition and nonsolicitation provisions
  • Restrictions on future employment
  • References and employment-verification provisions
  • Benefits and insurance provisions
  • Unemployment considerations
  • Attorneys’ fees provisions
  • Cooperation requirements
  • Return-of-property requirements
  • Tax-related provisions
  • What happens if you violate the agreement
  • Deadlines for accepting the agreement
  • Other provisions that may affect your rights

We’ll explain the agreement in plain English and answer your questions, so you can make an informed decision about whether to sign.

Flat Fee

$500

Severance Agreement Review

  • Attorney review of your severance agreement
  • A consultation to talk it through
  • A plain-English explanation of the important provisions and any concerns
  • A discussion of whether negotiation may be appropriate
  • Recommendations on your next steps

The review gives you what you need to decide whether to accept the agreement, ask for changes, or pursue further help.

Think Your Severance Offer Could Be Better?

Sometimes the best outcome isn’t simply deciding whether to sign. Depending on the circumstances, there may be room to negotiate.

More Money

Additional severance, continued salary or benefits, a larger lump-sum payment, or other financial terms.

Better Non-Monetary Terms

Removing or softening a noncompete or nonsolicitation, easing confidentiality or nondisparagement language, neutral references, benefits continuation, payment timing, and more.

Protection of Your Rights

A severance agreement often includes a broad release of claims. If you may have claims tied to your termination, we’ll explain how the release could affect your rights.

Severance Negotiation

If, after reviewing your agreement, we see a reasonable basis to negotiate, you can engage us to negotiate with your former employer. Depending on your situation, we can negotiate:

  • The amount of severance
  • Payment structure
  • Continued benefits
  • Bonus or commission payments
  • Equity or other compensation
  • References
  • Confidentiality
  • Nondisparagement
  • Noncompetition provisions
  • Nonsolicitation provisions
  • Release language
  • Other contractual terms

How Negotiation Works

1. We Review

We identify the provisions worth negotiating and talk through your goals.

2. We Strategize

We decide which terms to pursue and prioritize what matters most to you.

3. We Negotiate

If you retain us, we deal with the employer or its attorney on your behalf.

4. We Evaluate

We explain the revised agreement and the changes before you decide whether to sign.

Negotiation Fees

$500 + 33% of any recovery above the original offer

Example: if your employer offers $10,000 and we negotiate it to $20,000, the additional $10,000 is subject to the agreed contingent fee. Complex matters may use a different arrangement—we’ll always explain the fee before we begin.

Should You Negotiate Your Severance?

Every situation is different. Negotiating often makes sense when:

  • You’ve been offered little or no severance
  • You’re offered a significant payment but asked for a broad release
  • You believe you may have legal claims against your employer
  • You’re being asked to sign a noncompete or nonsolicitation
  • The agreement has unusually broad confidentiality or nondisparagement terms
  • You’re concerned about your reference or employment record
  • You’re facing a short deadline to accept
  • There are terms you’d like changed before signing

In other cases, signing as-is may be the most practical option. Our job isn’t to negotiate for its own sake—it’s to help you understand your options and decide what makes sense for you.

Don’t Sign Before You Understand the Agreement

Severance agreements can involve important legal rights and real financial consequences. If you’ve been offered one, send it to us before you sign. You’ll meet with an employment attorney who will review it, explain the key provisions, answer your questions, and discuss whether negotiation makes sense.

$500 Flat Fee

or call 865-383-1053

Already signed? Contact us before taking any further action—depending on the circumstances, there may still be issues we can help with.