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.
Not sure? Email me the agreement and I will recommend the right tier.
Rush turnaround: Rush 24-48 hour turnaround may be available for an added fee. Email the offer letter first; I will confirm rush feasibility before you pay.
These are anonymized examples from recent client work. Every review is done by me personally, not by AI and not by a paralegal.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Every agreement is different, but these are the areas where I consistently find risk that employees did not expect.
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 reply with the recommended tier, the flat fee, and the turnaround time. No work starts until you approve.
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 explain what to push back on and how. If you need the clauses rewritten with redlines and replacement language, I handle that in the $575 Create or Redline tier.
Send me the agreement. I will confirm the right tier, the fee, and what I need from you.
Send Me Your Agreement →700+ reviews on Upwork
"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."
"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."
"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."
Written Email Evaluation ($125): I read the offer letter or employment agreement (up to 30 pages), identify the highest-risk clauses (non-compete, IP assignment, equity vesting, restrictive covenants, severance), and send a written attorney evaluation with plain-English risk summary. Two business day turnaround. No redrafting at this tier. Create or Redline Existing Contract ($575): I review every clause, analyze non-compete enforceability under applicable state law, check California compliance (non-compete ban, ABC test, PAGA, FEHA), review equity and vesting terms, and deliver redlined edits plus a clean recommended version with replacement language. Includes up to three rounds of email-based revisions. Unusual scope (multi-document review including stock plans and ESPP docs, extended negotiation, executive compensation analysis) is billed at $240 per hour.
Written Email Evaluation: 2 business days from receipt. Create or Redline Existing Contract: usually 3-5 business days from receipt of the agreement and any context, depending on length and complexity. Rush 24-48 hour turnaround may be available for an added fee on either tier. Email the offer letter first and I will confirm rush feasibility before you pay. If a complex executive package genuinely needs more time, I will tell you up front.
Yes. The $575 Create or Redline tier includes attorney-drafted replacement language for problematic clauses (overbroad non-compete, IP overreach, missing double-trigger acceleration, severance traps) plus negotiation guidance explaining which points are worth pushing on. Up to three rounds of email-based revisions are included at the flat fee. If you need me to engage directly with the employer's counsel by email or phone, that can be arranged at $240 per hour.
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. For California-governed agreements, non-competes are void under Bus. and Prof. Code section 16600 with narrow exceptions; I flag those clauses and identify whether the broader agreement still works without them.
Yes. I review equity agreements, stock option grants, RSU agreements, and vesting schedules within the $575 Create or Redline tier when they are part of the same offer package. I flag issues like single-trigger vs. double-trigger acceleration, clawback provisions, post-termination exercise windows, and IP assignment tied to equity grants. Multi-document executive packages with separate stock plans, ESPPs, and side letters are billed at $240 per hour.
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. For deeply jurisdiction-specific questions outside California, I may recommend confirming with local counsel.