Manhattan Executive Compensation Lawyers

You’ve Worked Hard to Get Here. Now Make Sure You’re Getting Paid What You’re Worth.

You’re an executive in Manhattan. You’ve earned your seat at the table, and your compensation package should reflect that. But here’s what most executives don’t realize until it’s too late: the offer in front of you isn’t the final offer. It’s the starting point. The company’s lawyers have already read every line of that agreement. Have you?

At Carey & Associates, P.C., our Manhattan executive compensation attorneys work exclusively on the employee side. We don’t represent corporations. We represent you. Whether you’re negotiating a new offer, untangling your equity awards, or fighting a clawback provision your employer is suddenly trying to enforce, we know exactly what to do, and we’ve covered many of these issues in depth on the Employee Survival Guide podcast, because the more you know, the stronger your position.

Executive Compensation Is More Complicated Than You Think

We’re not just talking about your salary. Modern executive packages are layered, and sometimes deliberately so. Here’s what’s typically hiding inside:

• Base salary and annual performance bonuses tied to metrics that may be far more subjective than they appear on paper
• Restricted stock units (RSUs) and stock options with vesting schedules and post-termination exercise windows that can disappear if you’re not careful
• Deferred compensation plans governed by Internal Revenue Code Section 409A. If they don’t comply, you face the penalties
• Severance and change-in-control provisions that sound generous but are full of conditions and carve-outs
• Clawback clauses that let your employer demand money back under circumstances you’d never agree to if you read them closely
• Non-compete and non-solicitation agreements that can seriously limit where you go next

Each one can protect your financial future, or quietly undermine it. That’s why you need a Manhattan executive compensation lawyer before you sign anything.

What We Do for Executives in Manhattan

Mark Carey has spent nearly three decades as an employment attorney working exclusively for employees; not corporations, not HR departments, just you. That focus matters, because executive compensation isn’t a niche side issue for us, it’s the work.

• Employment Agreements. We draft, review, and negotiate contracts that actually protect you, including “for cause” definitions, bonus eligibility, equity provisions, and dispute resolution clauses that could otherwise waive your right to a jury trial. Employers write these agreements to protect themselves. We rewrite them to protect you.
• Equity Compensation. RSUs, stock options, profit interests; equity is often the most valuable part of your package and the part most likely to disappear if your employment ends the wrong way. We analyze vesting schedules, acceleration clauses, and post-termination windows so nothing catches you off guard when it matters most.
• Deferred Compensation. Section 409A compliance isn’t optional. We review distribution triggers and separation-from-service provisions to make sure you’re protected from unexpected tax penalties that can hit before you ever see a dollar.
• Severance and Change-in-Control Agreements. If the company gets acquired or you’re pushed out, your severance agreement is what stands between you and a bad outcome. We negotiate salary continuation, bonus payouts, equity acceleration, and “good reason” resignation language so you’re not left empty-handed when the dust settles.
• Clawback and Non-Compete Provisions. These clauses keep getting broader, and employers are leaning on them more aggressively than ever. We push back on overreaching language and evaluate enforceability under current New York law — because your ability to move freely and keep what you’ve earned shouldn’t be an afterthought.

Want to hear how Mark thinks about these fights? Check out the Severance Negotiation Secrets episode of the Employee Survival Guide podcast; it’s the kind of straight talk you won’t get from HR.

Call Our Manhattan Executive Compensation Lawyers Today

Manhattan’s executive market is one of the most competitive in the world. The companies here have sophisticated legal teams who have drafted these agreements hundreds of times. You need a lawyer who has been on the other side of that table just as many times; someone who knows exactly where the traps are and how to push back. Our client testimonials tell the story best.

Your initial consultation is completely confidential and there’s no obligation. If you’ve already signed something, it’s not too late, we can review what you’re working with and tell you where you stand.

Don’t sign anything, and don’t walk away from anything, without talking to us first.

Call Carey & Associates, P.C. at (914) 547-0331 or contact us online for a confidential, no-obligation consultation. We represent executives throughout Manhattan, New York City, Westchester County, and the broader region in New York and Connecticut.