Accepting new matters now

I review employment agreements before you sign away your rights.

Offer letters, employment agreements, non-competes, equity agreements, severance packages, PIIAs. I flag restrictive covenants, IP assignment overreach, non-compete traps, and clawback clauses that could cost you years of earnings.

Sergei Tokmakov, Esq. · CA Bar #279869 · 1,800+ projects completed
1,800+
Projects
700+
5-Star Reviews
15+
Years Licensed
48hr
Turnaround

Pick the tier that matches your situation

Not sure? Email me the agreement and I will recommend the right tier.

Quick Scan

Best if you just need a risk snapshot
$149 flat fee
24-48 hours
  • Up to 15 pages
  • Top 5 risk flags identified
  • Go / no-go recommendation
  • Non-compete enforceability check
  • Email follow-up included
Start Quick Scan

Review + Revision

Best if you need counter-offer language
$599+ flat fee
3-5 business days
  • Full review (everything above)
  • Attorney-drafted redlines
  • Replacement language for flagged clauses
  • Negotiation support for counter-offer
  • 2 rounds of follow-up Q&A
  • Complex or long agreements quoted individually
Start Review + Revision

Rush available: +$150 for 24-48 hour turnaround on any tier.

What a review actually looks like

These are anonymized examples from recent client work. Every review is done by me personally, not by AI and not by a paralegal.

Tech Company Offer Letter

VP-level offer with 12-month non-compete and broad IP assignment

Offer included 12-month nationwide non-compete and IP assignment covering all inventions during employment. I flagged the non-compete as likely unenforceable under California law and identified IP clause would assign pre-existing work.

Result: Negotiated non-compete down to 6 months with carve-outs, narrowed IP assignment to work product only.
Startup Equity Agreement

4-year vesting with single-trigger acceleration only

Standard 4-year vesting with 1-year cliff. Equity agreement included single-trigger acceleration on acquisition only. I identified missing double-trigger provision that would protect employee if terminated post-acquisition.

Result: Got company to add double-trigger acceleration on acquisition + termination without cause.
Severance Package

Executive severance with 18-month non-compete and mutual release

Severance package offered $120K in exchange for 18-month non-compete and broad mutual release. I flagged overbroad release that waived WARN Act claims and identified non-compete that would prevent work in entire industry.

Result: Negotiated $45K increase in severance, narrowed non-compete scope, and preserved statutory claims.
PIIA Review

Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement

Standard PIIA included clause assigning all inventions conceived during employment to employer, including work done off-hours. I found clause would assign pre-existing IP from prior side projects to new employer.

Result: Added carve-out schedule protecting 3 prior projects and clarified assignment limited to work product.

Issues I flag in employment agreements

Every agreement is different, but these are the areas where I consistently find risk that employees did not expect.

Non-compete enforceability — State-specific analysis of restrictive covenants
🔒
IP assignment scope — What inventions are you assigning to employer?
📈
Equity vesting and acceleration — Single vs. double-trigger, cliffs, exercise windows
💰
Clawback provisions — When can employer reclaim bonuses or equity?
🔄
Severance conditions — What triggers severance and what do you waive?
📝
Restrictive covenant scope — Non-solicitation, non-compete, customer restrictions
At-will carve-outs — Does agreement create implied contract for cause?
📋
Garden leave provisions — Paid leave during non-compete period

How it works

Send me the agreement

Email the offer letter, employment agreement, or severance package as PDF, Word, or even a photo. Tell me your concerns and what you are trying to accomplish.

I confirm scope and timeline

I reply with the recommended tier, the flat fee, and the turnaround time. No work starts until you approve.

I review every clause

You get a marked-up copy with risks highlighted, replacement language where needed, and a plain-English explanation of what matters and what does not.

I walk you through next steps

I explain what to push back on and how. If you need the clauses rewritten, I handle that in the Review + Revision tier.

Before you sign that offer letter, know exactly what you are giving up.

Send me the agreement. I will confirm the right tier, the fee, and what I need from you.

Send Me Your Agreement →

What clients say about my employment agreement reviews

700+ reviews on Upwork

California Employment Agreement Review
★★★★★ 5.0

"Very detailed and timely responses to all my queries. He was very knowledgeable of California Employment Contract Law and did a very good job of explaining all the nuances and options. I would recommend and hire again."

$480 · Employment agreement review
Startup Equity and Non-Compete Review
★★★★★ 5.0

"Sergei reviewed my offer letter and equity agreement for a startup role. He caught a missing double-trigger provision that would have cost me my equity if the company was acquired and I was terminated. Got it fixed before I signed."

$349 · Full Review
Executive Severance Package Negotiation
★★★★★ 5.0

"I was offered a severance package with an 18-month non-compete. Sergei identified several issues with the release and non-compete scope. He drafted replacement language that I sent back to the company. They accepted most of his changes and increased the severance by $45K."

$599 · Review + Revision

Frequently asked questions about employment agreement review

What is the difference between the three employment agreement review tiers?

Quick Scan ($149): I review up to 15 pages, identify the top 5 risk flags, and give you a go/no-go recommendation within 24-48 hours. Full Review ($349): I review every clause, analyze non-compete enforceability, review equity and vesting terms, and provide negotiation talking points. Review + Revision ($599+): I do the full review and rewrite the problematic clauses with attorney-drafted redlines and replacement language you can use in your counter-offer.

How long does an employment agreement review take?

Quick Scan: 24-48 hours. Full Review: 2-4 business days. Review + Revision: 3-5 business days. Rush turnaround (24-48 hours) is available for any tier for an additional $150. If I need more time for a complex agreement, I will tell you before starting.

Can you help me negotiate my employment agreement?

Yes. The Full Review tier includes negotiation talking points explaining which clauses to push back on and what alternatives to request. The Review + Revision tier includes attorney-drafted replacement language you can send directly to HR or the hiring manager. If you need me to engage in direct negotiation with the employer's counsel, that can be arranged separately.

Do you review non-compete agreements?

Yes. I review non-compete clauses in employment agreements, standalone non-compete agreements, and restrictive covenant provisions in severance packages. I analyze enforceability under applicable state law and provide guidance on what terms are negotiable and what carve-outs to request.

Can you review equity and stock option agreements?

Yes. I review equity agreements, stock option grants, RSU agreements, and vesting schedules. I flag issues like single-trigger vs. double-trigger acceleration, clawback provisions, post-termination exercise windows, and IP assignment tied to equity grants.

What if the employment agreement is governed by a state other than California?

I review employment agreements governed by any state's law. The analysis focuses on risk identification, clause structure, and negotiation strategy. Where state-specific issues arise (like non-compete enforceability, which varies significantly by state), I will flag them and explain the implications under that jurisdiction's law.

Send Agreement → See Pricing