New York City Employment Contract Attorneys

As an employee, you may be approached by your employer and asked to sign an employment contract. This may be presented to you as a "boilerplate" form that the employer asks all employees to sign. Or you may be an executive or high level professional with an opportunity to negotiate the terms and conditions of your employment. In either case, it is crucial to understand that such an agreement will affect your rights and obligations in your relationship with the employer. An attorney at Cary Kane LLP can both review and negotiate employment contracts to make sure your interests are protected.

Review and Analysis of Employment Contracts

Often, when someone has been offered a job or promotion, the primary discussion with the employer will be about the economic terms, such as salary, bonus, and fringe benefits. If the employee has received a favorable offer, he or she may be eager to sign any document and not worry about the other "little things." In fact, there are several other questions you need to ask when reviewing an employment contract. These include:

• Does the employment contract have a fixed duration. If not, is there any restriction on the employer's ability to terminate the agreement at will?
• Does the employment contract guarantee bonuses, in whole or in part, or are they awarded at the sole discretion of the employer?
• Does the employment contract contain a "restrictive covenant" which prohibits the employee from working for a competitor or from servicing the employer's clients for a period of time after the employee leaves?
• Does the employment contract provide for some form of alternative dispute resolution, such as binding arbitration, as a substitute for the employee's right to go to court for breaches of the agreement or violations of the law?
• Does the employment contract limit the employee's ability to hold certain investments or participate in other business activities outside of work?
• Does the employment contract allow employees to retain their "intellectual property" or does it assign such rights to the employer?

The above list is far from exhaustive. At Cary Kane LLP, an attorney will talk to you about your particular situation to determine what may need to be addressed in your employment contract.

Negotiation With The Employer

An attorney at Cary Kane LLP is available with experience in negotiating such agreements. The attorney understands the importance not only of the legal terms in the contract, but also the business and personal dynamics of the negotiation.

Unlike a situation where the employee has been terminated, negotiation of an employment contract involves an employer who wants the employee to be there. We recognize the need to vigorously advocate for our client's interests, while also ensuring that negotiations remain civil with a positive tone that says you value and look forward to having a professional relationship with the employer.

If you need to have an employment agreement reviewed or negotiated contact a New York City employment contract lawyer at Cary Kane LLP to schedule a consultation.