How a Consumer Hired a Lawyer to Review an Employee Separation Agreement in California (2024)

In 2024, a personal client in California sought assistance with the review of an employment agreement and a severance proposal prior to finalizing the agreement. The client, the general manager of a small car wash company that had recently tripled in size, felt uncertain about the financial motivations behind a proposed separation from the owner. Key concerns included ensuring a 5% payout upon the sale of the business, as well as assessing the language and terms of the severance agreement to protect their interests. As a result, the client received three proposals from licensed lawyers, with flat fee bids ranging from $350 to $899, all submitted to meet the requested deadline of less than one week.