How a Computer Software Business Hired a Lawyer to Review an Equity Compensation Agreement in New York

In 2023, a business in New York sought assistance with reviewing an equity compensation agreement. The client, an employee, became concerned after significant delays in receiving a Share Option Agreement, which was crucial for accessing the promised incentive shares. Upon finally receiving the agreement, they discovered that their employer was shifting from incentive stock options to restricted stock units with complicated vesting conditions that they felt were fundamentally unfair, particularly regarding potential forfeiture upon leaving the company. As a result, the client received two proposals from licensed lawyers, with flat fee bids ranging from $795 to $1,200, all submitted to complete the work within the requested deadline of one week.