issues

Breach of Contract

An employment contract is simply a set of promises that you and your employer make to each other. When your employer breaks its promise and breaches your contract, it can leave you confused, frustrated, and unsure of what to do next.

Employment contracts aren’t always formal documents. Sometimes they’re offer letters, company policies, plans, emails, or just oral conversations.

 

If your employer didn’t follow through on what they said they would do, you might have legal rights—whether or not the agreement was in writing, or you signed a formal contract.

Breach of contract claims can arise when an employer changes the terms of your job without your agreement. That could mean cutting your pay or changing your role. It could also mean firing you before your contract ends or without “Cause,” when Cause is required. These changes can be unlawful if they violate agreed-upon terms.

If you’re an executive, you might have a detailed contract that covers compensation, bonuses, equity, severance, and post-employment restrictions. Violating any of those terms can have a serious impact. Even if your contract allows termination without “Cause,” you might still have legal protections.

We help workers and executives understand whether they have a valid breach of contract claim. Our team looks at the details of your situation and the promises your employer made. If your rights were violated, we help you take action.

If you think your employer broke its agreement with you, contact us. We’re here to help you understand what happened and what you can do next.

Framing the Issue

  • Not all employment contracts are explicit or individually negotiated. Sometimes the terms of employment are implied from (or take the form of) offer letters, policy manuals, plan documents, or employee handbooks. 
  • Money often drives breaches, with large sums and complex calculations. Bonuses, commissions, and severance are common flashpoints. Timing matters, and issues like stock, equity vesting, and other benefits may arise.
  • If you’ve been laid off, you may be offered a severance package that includes a promise to rehire before the company turns to new employees. But if it doesn’t keep that promise, you might have a claim. 
  • If you think you might have a breach of contract claim, records matter. Documentation of policies or promises can help—whether it’s something your employer gave you or notes you took.
  • Some states have anti-retaliation laws to protect you from counterclaims. Anti-SLAPP laws let you quickly dismiss lawsuits meant to silence you. SLAPP stands for “Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation.”
  • Many executive contracts let employers avoid severance if you’re fired for “Cause.” With an attorney’s help, you can check if they stretched its meaning and claim the payout you deserve.
  • Disputes over stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), or other equity compensation are common for executives. Our attorneys have helped professionals secure the vesting or equity treatment they earned.

Notable Matters

  • Won an $18.9 million arbitration award for two employees of a bank that refused to honor the terms of a plan calling for certain carried interest based on the fees raised by an investment fund they worked on. 
  • Negotiated a seven-figure settlement for an executive whose employer terminated his employment and failed to correctly calculate and pay out certain equity units guaranteed by an agreement between them. 

Has this happened

to you?

1
/
5

Did your employer ignore terms in your offer letter or agreement?

If you think your employer breached your employment contract, we’re ready to stand up for your rights.

Related

Other Issues

See all