Tag Archives: executive contracts

U-Turn Ahead: Uber hits brakes over new hire’s refusal to help in trade secret defense

Posted on May 31, 2017 by Joe Ahmad

In a move that surprised no one watching the drama between Uber and Google’s Waymo self-driving vehicle division, Uber fired engineering whiz Anthony Levandowski on Tuesday. The company thought it scored a real coup last year in hiring Levandowski to … Continue reading →

Posted in Complaints Against Executives, Corporate culture, Covenants Not to Compete, Defend Trade Secrets Act, Executive contracts, Trade Secrets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on U-Turn Ahead: Uber hits brakes over new hire’s refusal to help in trade secret defense

Game industry executive’s job-hopping mistake leads to `Game Over’ jury verdict for Facebook/Oculus

Posted on February 9, 2017 by Joe Ahmad

Hours after a Dallas jury returned its $500 million verdict for ZeniMax over claims that Facebook and Oculus unfairly used its virtual reality coding, the creator of that code, John Carmack, took to social media to continue his defense. Carmack, … Continue reading →

Posted in Complaints Against Executives, Confidential Information, Executive contracts, Litigation, Non-Competes, Trade Secrets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Game industry executive’s job-hopping mistake leads to `Game Over’ jury verdict for Facebook/Oculus

Dialer Beware: Trump Volunteers Must Sign Onerous Agreement to Work Online Phone Bank

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Joe Ahmad

Where do I begin? There are so many troubling aspects to the lengthy nondisclosure agreement that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is requiring online campaign volunteers to sign that I just had to speak up. The contents of this 2,271-world … Continue reading →

Posted in CEOs, Confidential Information, Covenants Not to Compete, Executive contracts, Litigation, Non-Competes, Trade Secrets | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Massage Envy No More

Posted on July 28, 2016 by Joe Ahmad

Houston Chronicle business columnist Chris Tomlinson recently interviewed me about how a woman’s search for a better job landed her in serious legal trouble. The unfortunate story involves Maxie Foster, who worked for years as a receptionist to pay her … Continue reading →

Posted in Confidential Information, Corporate culture, Covenants Not to Compete, Executive Compensation, Executive contracts, Litigation, Non-Competes, Trade Secrets | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Massage Envy No More

Crass Executive Spending Puts Leading Veterans Charity under a Cloud

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Joe Ahmad

As obvious as it seems, abusing an expense account with lavish personal spending is one of the most common ways a CEO can get into trouble. Being an executive comes with reasonable perks that are necessary and helpful to doing the job. But some people get carried away and forget that these funds are not for their personal use and enjoyment. Continue reading →

Posted in CEOs, Complaints Against Executives, Corporate culture, Executive Compensation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Crass Executive Spending Puts Leading Veterans Charity under a Cloud

What’s the Best Way to Take People With You to a New Company?

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Joe Ahmad

I’ve devoted a couple of blogs (here and here) to what things executives should and should not take with them when they change employers. Simply playing that part right can help avoid litigation with former employers. Where it gets really … Continue reading →

Posted in CEOs, Executive contracts, Fiduciary Duty, Legal, Litigation, Non-Competes, Trade Secrets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What’s the Best Way to Take People With You to a New Company?

Mandatory Retirement Age Policies Not so Mandatory

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Joe Ahmad

Two recent high-profile executive retirements, both citing the companies’ mandatory retirement age policies, raise the question “how can mandatory retirement age policies be legal?” The truth is, most of them aren’t. Neither IBM CEO Sam Palmisano nor Freddie Mac Chairman … Continue reading →

Posted in CEOs, Executive contracts, Legal, Mandatory Retirement Age | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mandatory Retirement Age Policies Not so Mandatory

Changing Jobs? Here’s What Not to Take With You

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Joe Ahmad

In my last blog, I discussed what executives should take with them when they’re leaving their company. In this blog, we’ll go over something just as important: what they shouldn’t take with them. The short answer is, besides the employment … Continue reading →

Posted in CEOs, Complaints Against Executives, Executive contracts, Legal, Litigation, Trade Secrets, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Changing Jobs? Here’s What Not to Take With You

Executives Should Proceed With Caution When Changing Jobs

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Joe Ahmad

One of the biggest, and most likely, legal headaches highly placed executives can give themselves involves their actions just before and just after leaving one company and joining another. An executive’s actions during this time are critical to avoid getting … Continue reading →

Posted in CEOs, Complaints Against Executives, Executive contracts, Fiduciary Duty, Legal, Litigation, Non-Competes, Trade Secrets | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Executives Should Proceed With Caution When Changing Jobs

If there’s a change of control, an executive needs options in writing

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Joe Ahmad

Change of control agreements, or golden parachutes as they are more commonly known, can be a lifesaver for an executive whose employer is purchased by another company, but these agreements also are rife with pitfalls. The most common problem is … Continue reading →

Posted in CEOs, Change of Control Agreements, Executive Compensation, Executive contracts | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on If there’s a change of control, an executive needs options in writing