SMYTH MASON

• Prosecution and defense of injunctions involving non-compete and non-disclosure agreements;

• Advising executives in all aspects of their employment relationships, including contract and exit negotiations, executive pay and litigation;

• Advising employers on employment law compliance;

• Defending employers in employment cases;

• Drafting and analysis of noncompetition and non-disclosure agreements for businesses and individual executives;

• Wage/hour disputes; and

• Internal investigations of sexual harassment and other employee complaints.

We also frequently advise high level corporate executives such as CEOs, COOs, CFOs, corporate counsel, and vice presidents on all aspects of their contractual negotiations, both at the beginning and end of a particular employment relationship.

These negotiations include all aspects of executive pay including salary and commission, restricted stock grants, stock options and severance pay. They also include contract issues such as good cause dismissal and good reason departure, change in control protections and reputation issues, including the managing of business media announcements and non-disparagement.

Our clients include executives in all types of industries, from Fortune 500 technology, biotech, and communications companies to international banks, regional health care institutions, insurance companies, retail and wholesale food services companies, Internet commerce companies and start-ups. Our work includes interaction with board representatives, senior management and venture capital partners. In this field, we often work with skilled compensation, tax and outplacement consultants to further ensure the executive is well positioned at each stage of his or her relationship.

We have also successfully asserted multiple wrongful termination claims on behalf of highly compensated executives where warranted. These cases have included gender, age, race, marital status, pregnancy discrimination, whistle blowing and sexual harassment claims.