Severance Agreement Lawyers in Washington, D.C. Protect Interests of Departing Employees

Dedicated severance pay attorneys negotiate and enforce fair compensation packages

When you’re leaving a job, the severance pay you’re offered may come at the cost of sacrificing important rights. If you are asked to sign an agreement, you should consult with a knowledgeable and skilled employment attorney who can review it and advise you of its implications. An attorney may also be able to negotiate a better deal for you. And, if a dispute arises afterward, you’ll need an attorney to represent you. At Cashdan & Kane, PLLC, our lawyers are experienced in advising employees through the Washington, D.C. metro area concerning their rights under severance agreements.

What is a severance agreement?

A severance agreement is a contract with your employer that defines the terms on which you leave your job. The employer agrees to give you certain pay, benefits or both. In return, you undertake certain obligations intended to protect the employer’s interests. You may be asked to sign any or all of the following:

  • A general release, which waives your right to sue the employer
  • A non-disclosure agreement, which prohibits you from revealing such information as the reason you left, the employer’s trade secrets and any other privileged data
  • A non-compete agreement, which limits your ability to work in the same business and location as your employer for a set period of time
  • A waiver of other rights and benefits to which you might otherwise be entitled

We can give a thorough review to your severance agreement and explain how its provisions may impact your livelihood.

What should an employee look for in a severance agreement?

Any severance agreement you sign should protect your interests as well as your employer’s. The agreement should address these issues:

  • Pay and benefits — In addition to any severance pay, you are entitled to payment of unpaid wages, accrued but unused paid time off and leave, 401k contributions and other vested benefits. If you have been on your employer’s group health insurance plan, you are entitled to continuation of coverage under the COBRA law.
  • Limits on non-disclosure and non-compete agreements — Your attorney should review these restrictive covenants and, if necessary, negotiate reasonable limits. For instance, you might clarify that confidentiality provisions don’t apply to your immediate family or attorneys and make sure a non-compete covenant isn’t overly broad. In addition, certain types of non-disclosure and non-compete agreements are unlawful. 
  • Dispute resolution — The agreement should spell out how disputes relating to the severance agreement will be decided. If there is a clause mandating arbitration, your attorney should make sure that it is reasonable and procedurally fair to you.

We review severance agreements with the utmost care and negotiate forcefully to amend or strike any provisions that may be disadvantageous to you.

Employment separation and severance agreement disputes

Any agreement, no matter how well drafted, won’t necessarily prevent future disputes. Your employer might violate the agreement or claim that you violated it. If any dispute arises, we will take the strongest reasonable legal position in your favor and zealously represent you in any litigation, arbitration, mediation or negotiations that might be necessary.

Why you need an attorney for your severance agreement

At every stage from working out a severance agreement to resolving disputes, you can benefit from the advice of one of our knowledgeable and experienced Washington employment lawyers. Your employer will be sure to have its own skilled lawyers on the case, and you can trust us to match them in the legal arena.

Contact an experienced attorney in Washington, D.C. for assistance with severance agreements

Cashdan & Kane, PLLC, represents clients in the Washington, D.C. area who need counsel with legal issues involving severance agreements and other employment matters. Call us at 908-264-9331 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.