How a Consumer Hired a Lawyer to Review an Equity Compensation Agreement in California

In 2026, a personal client in California sought assistance with the review of an equity compensation agreement following an unexpected layoff after five years with their employer. During their tenure, the client was granted a substantial number of incentive equity units but faced issues regarding the fair market value of these units after being terminated just one week before another portion was due to vest. They were concerned over the validity of the company's repurchase agreement, which undervalued their vested units and the circumstances surrounding their termination without cause. As a result, the client received three proposals from licensed lawyers, with flat fee bids ranging from $700 to $999, all submitted to meet the requested deadline of less than one week.