Experienced Executive Compensation Lawyers in New York City
Executive Compensation Lawyers with Decades of Experience in NYC for Senior Leaders
Senior executives in New York City are not just negotiating a salary. You are negotiating your financial future, your reputation, and your freedom to move in the next chapter of your career. Your package may involve base pay, annual bonuses, RSUs, stock options, long term incentive plans, severance protection, change in control benefits, and restrictive covenants that can either protect or trap you.
Mansell Law is a New York City employment and executive compensation law firm that focuses on representing senior level executives and C suite leaders and has represent 200+ executives in compensation and severance negotiations. With a combined 50 years of experience negotiating executive compensation on both the front end and back end of employment, our lawyers know how to protect high earners in high stakes situations, including at publicly traded companies.
Greg Mansell and the Mansell Law team are trusted by executives who want a seasoned, strategic executive compensation lawyer in NYC sitting on their side of the table.
Why Senior Executives Choose Mansell Law
Executives come to us when the stakes are high. They are stepping into a new C suite role, navigating a leadership transition, or being quietly pushed out after years of performance. In every scenario, there is pressure to sign quickly and trust that the company “will do the right thing.”
We take the opposite approach. We slow the process down just enough to protect you, without derailing the opportunity or escalating conflict. We translate dense employment contracts, equity plans, and severance agreements into plain language, then walk you through your real downside risk and upside potential. You see what happens if you succeed, if leadership changes, or if you are terminated without cause.
Because we have spent decades negotiating executive employment agreements, equity packages, and severance deals, we recognize patterns quickly. We understand how boards, compensation committees, and in house counsel think, which terms are flexible, and which issues will trigger internal resistance. That insight allows us to push hard where it matters and preserve your relationships with the people you still need to work with.
Executive Employment Agreements in New York City
Your executive employment agreement is the blueprint for your role and your protection. It defines your pay, your authority, and what happens if the company’s story does not go as planned.
When we review an executive contract, we focus on both the business terms and the legal structure. We look at your base salary, short term bonuses, long term incentive opportunities, and any sign on or make whole awards. We examine how your title, duties, reporting relationships, and performance expectations are described, and whether those provisions give the company a quiet path to squeeze you out later.
We also look at duration and renewal terms, whether the agreement is for a fixed period or “at will,” and how performance reviews tie into termination rights. The goal is simple. If the company wants the benefit of your experience and reputation, it should bear a fair share of the risk if circumstances change.
Equity, RSUs, Stock Options, and Long Term Incentive Plans
For many New York City executives, the most valuable part of the deal is not cash. It is equity. RSUs, stock options, PSUs, phantom equity, profit interests, carried interest, and long term incentive plans are where true wealth is built and where the most hidden risk sits.
We routinely analyze and negotiate:
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RSU and option award agreements
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Performance based equity structures and targets
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Long term incentive plans that pay out in cash, stock, or a mix of both
We pay particular attention to vesting schedules, acceleration triggers, and what happens to unvested equity if you are terminated without cause, resign for good reason, or there is a change in control. We review clawback and forfeiture provisions, definitions of misconduct, and the fine print under plan documents that can override friendly language in your offer letter.
We also flag potential tax issues, including timing and structure concerns under Section 409A and, where relevant, golden parachute rules under Section 280G. Our role is to give you a clear picture of what you actually earn in realistic scenarios, not just the headline number on a recruiting slide.
Severance Packages for High Earners
Executives often call us at the most stressful moment in their career. The CEO has changed, a new board is in place, the environment has become toxic, the company has missed projections, or your role has been “restructured.” You are suddenly faced with a separation agreement, a deadline, and a company narrative that does not match reality.
Mansell Law represents senior executives in negotiating severance packages that reflect both your contributions and the promises made when you joined. In some matters, we are involved early, building robust severance protections into your initial executive contract. In others, we are brought in after the fact, when termination is imminent or has already occurred.
In either scenario, we focus on salary continuation or lump sum payments, bonus treatment, health benefits, and favorable handling of equity. We work to preserve or accelerate vesting, prevent unnecessary forfeiture of RSUs and options, and secure non disparagement, reference, and announcement language that protects your reputation. The goal is not just a larger number, but a cleaner and safer exit.
Executive Exit Negotiations in NYC
Not every executive departure involves a sudden termination. Many senior leaders decide they want to move on, whether because the culture has shifted, the environment has become hostile, there are irreconcilable disagreements among senior leadership, or the compensation that was promised simply never materialized. In these situations, you may still be valued by the company and reluctant to “make it a fight,” but you also know you should not walk away without a fair package. Mansell Law helps executives in New York City structure amicable exits that protect their equity, preserve their reputation, and provide meaningful financial support during the transition.
We start by reviewing your employment agreement, equity awards, bonus plans, and internal communications to identify what you are contractually owed and where there is leverage to enhance the exit terms. Then we design a strategy that allows you to leave on professional terms while ensuring that unvested RSUs, options, and bonuses are not casually forfeited. In many matters, we negotiate continued or partial vesting, pro rata or guaranteed bonuses, salary continuation, paid health benefits, and clear non disparagement and reference provisions, all wrapped into a mutual separation agreement that frames your departure in a positive and accurate way.
The goal is simple. You should not lose the compensation and equity you worked years to earn just because you are ready for a new chapter. With Mansell Law managing the exit negotiations, you can focus on your next opportunity while we secure a package that reflects your contributions and gives you financial breathing room to make thoughtful career decisions.
Non Compete, Non Solicit, and Confidentiality Restrictions
Restrictive covenants can define what you are allowed to do after you leave. A broad non compete or non solicit can effectively bar you from your own industry, even if a court might later find it unenforceable.
We review and negotiate non competition clauses, non solicitation of employees and customers, and confidentiality and intellectual property provisions with a practical eye. We consider where you realistically want to work next, which relationships you need to preserve, and the specific enforcement tendencies of your industry and region.
Our strategy is to narrow restrictions to what is truly necessary for the company’s legitimate interests and to tie the most burdensome restrictions to adequate compensation, often through severance and equity protections.
Public Company Executives and High Profile Negotiations
Public company executives operate in a different environment. Your compensation may be disclosed in SEC filings. Your severance and change in control benefits may be scrutinized by shareholders, advisory firms, and the media. Internally, boards and compensation committees are under their own pressure to demonstrate “discipline” in executive pay.
We regularly advise executives at publicly traded companies on offers, renewals, and exits. We understand how compensation committees function, how HR and outside counsel structure packages, and how to negotiate in a way that is firm, data driven, and credible. We are mindful that the negotiation is not just about the contract in front of you, but about how that contract will appear when it is disclosed.
Our presence signals to the company that you are serious about protecting your interests while remaining professional and solutions oriented.
What Executives Say About Working With Mansell Law
“ When my board brought in a new CEO and reorganized the leadership team, I knew my position was vulnerable. Greg Mansell walked me through every scenario and explained exactly what my leverage was. He handled the negotiation quietly but firmly and secured a severance and equity acceleration package that was far better than the company’s initial offer. Just as important, my reputation remains intact in the market. I would not go into any serious executive negotiation in NYC without Mansell Law in my corner. ”
– Gary H., Chief Operating Officer
“ I was recruited as CFO of a publicly traded company with a complicated mix of RSUs, options, and performance awards. Mansell Law reviewed everything, including the underlying equity plans that most people never read. Greg identified language that could have cost me millions if leadership changed or if there were a strategic sale. We pushed for surgical changes, not a complete rewrite, and the company agreed. I refer Mansell Law to other executives because they negotiate at the level boards and compensation committees respect. ”
– Madison W., Chief Financial Officer
How We Work With Senior Executives
Working with Mansell Law is straightforward and efficient. We start with a confidential conversation about your role, your goals, and the timeline you are facing. We then review your documents, including your offer letter, employment contract, equity grants, plan documents, restrictive covenants, and any severance proposals.
Once we understand the full picture, we map out your leverage and your risk. We explain where the agreement is in line with market practice and where it falls short. Together, we prioritize what must change, what would be nice to improve, and what can remain as is.
Some clients ask us to negotiate directly with the company or its outside counsel. Others prefer to be the one on the calls, with us drafting language and strategy behind the scenes. We adapt to your style and the political realities of your situation, always with the same objective: maximize your economic and professional protection while preserving your reputation.
Common Questions About Executive Compensation Lawyers in NYC
Do I really need an executive compensation lawyer if I already have an offer?
At the senior level, companies expect you to negotiate. An experienced New York City executive compensation attorney helps you improve economics, tighten protections on termination, and avoid traps in equity, clawback, and restrictive covenant provisions. The company already has lawyers and HR professionals protecting its interests. You deserve the same level of sophistication on your side.
When should I involve a lawyer?
Earlier is better. The best time is when you receive a term sheet or draft offer, not after you have already informally agreed to key terms. We also step in when you are being promoted and asked to sign a new contract, when your role is changing in ways that increase your risk, or when you are being presented with a severance package and a short deadline.
Speak With a New York City Executive Compensation Lawyer
If you are a senior executive, C suite leader, or high earning professional in New York City, you get only a few chances in your career to negotiate a truly transformative compensation package or severance agreement. Those moments should not be left to chance or to standard form documents written to favor the company.
Mansell Law brings more than 50 years of combined executive compensation experience to your negotiation. We handle front end employment agreements, complex equity and long term incentive arrangements, and high profile exits for executives at both private and publicly traded companies.
To discuss your situation in confidence, contact Mansell Law today through our New York City employment and executive compensation website or by phone. A focused, experienced executive compensation lawyer in NYC can help you turn an offer or an exit into a structure that truly reflects your value.
To discuss your situation confidentially, contact Mansell Law:
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Call: 646-921-8900
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Or complete the confidential contact form on our website
You get one opportunity to negotiate your executive package correctly. Make sure you have an experienced NYC executive compensation lawyer protecting your interests.
