Getting these decisions right early matters. Poorly structured equity grants, misclassified contractors or unenforceable agreements can lead to significant issues down the road.
Employment and Equity Services
We support employment and incentive matters including:
Employment Agreements — Offer letters, employment agreements, and at-will documentation with appropriate IP assignment and confidentiality provisions.
Contractor Agreements — Independent contractor agreements with classification risk in mind and IP ownership clearly addressed.
Severance Agreements — Separation documentation that resolves claims cleanly and protects the company.
Equity Grants — Equity grants to employees, advisors, and consultants, including stock options, restricted stock awards, RSUs, SARs, profits interests, and more, with vesting schedules tailored to the relationship.
Incentive Option Plans — Drafting and administering equity incentive plans, including ISO and NSO mechanics, pool sizing, and board approval processes.
83(b) Elections — Timely filing strategy for founders and employees receiving restricted stock or early-exercise options.
409A Compliance — Coordinating independent appraisals and ensuring strike prices are defensible against IRS scrutiny.
Non-Competes and Restrictive Covenants — Post-employment restrictions structured for enforceability in the relevant jurisdiction.
Our Approach
Employment and equity structures should reflect where the company is and where it is going. Early-stage grants should be clean and defensible. Later-stage plans need to hold up under investor and acquirer scrutiny.
We work with founders at every stage—from setting up a first option plan to cleaning up equity arrangements ahead of a Series A or exit.
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If you are setting up an equity plan, making grants, hiring key employees, or preparing for a financing where employment and equity will come under review, book a consultation to discuss your situation.