Severance Agreement Attorney in Tampa
Employee-Only Representation, Board-Certified Attorneys, & 45 Years of Combined Experience
A severance agreement is a legally binding contract drafted by your employer’s attorneys to protect your employer’s interests. Before you sign, you need someone whose only obligation is to you. At Kwall Barack Nadeau PLLC, we represent employees exclusively, and our practice covers nothing but employment law. Ryan Barack and Michelle E. Nadeau are Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by The Florida Bar, the highest level of recognition the Bar confers in this field. That combination of employee-only representation and elite credentialing is what we bring to every severance matter in Tampa and the Tampa Bay area.
Employees are typically given a short window to review and sign. Signing without legal guidance can permanently waive your right to pursue claims for discrimination, retaliation, or wrongful termination. Once that signature is on the page, those rights are largely gone.
If you’ve received a severance offer and aren’t sure what you’re being asked to give up, contact us before you sign. Call (727) 202-5840 or reach out through our online contact form.
What We Do for Clients with Severance Agreements
Our representation starts with a thorough review of the agreement itself. We identify what rights you’re being asked to waive, assess whether the compensation offered reflects your actual situation, and flag provisions, such as non-compete clauses, non-disparagement terms, or broad confidentiality obligations, that could affect your life after employment.
An initial offer from an employer isn’t necessarily final. We negotiate severance package terms on behalf of Tampa employees and regularly push for improved compensation, narrowed restrictions, and stronger protections. If an employer fails to honor a signed agreement, we can pursue litigation to enforce your rights. We also work with clients who aren’t sure whether accepting a severance offer is in their best interest at all, particularly when the termination itself may have been unlawful.
Board-Certified Attorneys with 45 Years of Combined Experience
Ryan Barack and Michelle E. Nadeau hold Board Certification in Labor and Employment Law from The Florida Bar. Fewer attorneys in Florida hold this credential than you might expect. It distinguishes attorneys who have demonstrated substantial involvement in the field and passed a rigorous examination. Our firm collectively brings 45 years of employment law experience to each matter.
We’re selective about the cases we accept, which means when we take on a severance matter, we’re confident we can handle it effectively. Kwall Barack Nadeau PLLC has represented thousands of clients and recovered tens of millions of dollars in class actions, WARN Act cases, wage and hour disputes, and other employment matters. Our attorneys have been sought out as sources on employment law issues by FOX 4, ABC Action News, The National Desk, WESH2, and WMNF 88.5.
When a Severance Offer May Signal a Larger Legal Issue
Employers sometimes extend severance packages to employees they’ve wrongfully terminated precisely to obtain a release of potential claims before the employee speaks with an attorney. Signing an agreement that includes a release of claims generally extinguishes the right to file an EEOC charge or lawsuit for conduct that occurred before the signing date.
Because we handle wrongful termination, workplace discrimination, retaliation, EEOC claims, and WARN Act matters, we can evaluate whether the termination that led to your severance offer was itself unlawful. A severance offer is not proof that your employer acted properly. It may be the opposite.
Situations That Call for a Tampa Severance Attorney
Not every employee who receives a severance offer needs litigation. But many need counsel before they decide. You should contact an attorney before signing if any of these apply:
- You’re 40 or older and being asked to waive age discrimination claims. Under the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, you have at least 21 days to consider the offer, or 45 days if the offer is part of a group layoff or exit incentive program, and 7 days to revoke after signing.
- Your termination followed a complaint about discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.
- The agreement includes a non-compete clause that could restrict where you work for years after leaving.
- You were part of a mass layoff and may have rights under the federal WARN Act, which requires covered employers to provide 60 days’ advance notice regardless of whether a severance agreement is signed.
- You have a tight signing deadline and haven’t had the agreement reviewed by anyone working for you.
How We Approach Every Severance Matter
Every matter at Kwall Barack Nadeau PLLC starts with a detailed review of the facts and the applicable legal framework before we determine a path forward. We work closely with clients to build well-supported positions and make sure you understand your options and what each one realistically involves. We prepare cases with the expectation that they may proceed through litigation, even when early resolution is possible. That preparation changes the dynamic in negotiation.
Contact a Tampa Severance Agreement Attorney
If you’ve received a severance package or been terminated and aren’t sure what comes next, we’re ready to help you understand your position. Kwall Barack Nadeau PLLC serves employees throughout Tampa and the Tampa Bay area. Call us at (727) 202-5840 or contact us through our online form to schedule a consultation with a severance agreement attorney.
Reputable & Trusted Source of Knowledge
Where Tampa Employment Claims Are Heard
Tampa is the county seat of Hillsborough County, Florida. Federal employment claims, including those arising from severance disputes involving federal law, are filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division. State employment claims are heard in the Florida Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court in Hillsborough County. Kwall Barack Nadeau PLLC represents employees across Tampa and the Tampa Bay area in matters before both courts.
Severance Agreement Review & What Happens Next
What We Examine in Your Agreement
When we review a severance agreement, we’re identifying what rights you’re being asked to waive and whether the terms reflect your actual leverage and circumstances. A thorough review covers the breadth of the claims release, the scope and duration of any non-compete or non-solicitation clause, the adequacy of the severance payment relative to your tenure and situation, and any confidentiality or non-disparagement obligations that could follow you after employment ends.
After the Review: Sign, Negotiate, or Claim
Once we’ve reviewed the agreement, we advise you on whether to accept the offer, negotiate for improved terms, or evaluate whether an underlying legal claim makes signing inadvisable. Those options aren’t always mutually exclusive, and the right path depends on the facts. Because we’re selective about the cases we accept, when we recommend pursuing a claim rather than signing, that recommendation carries weight. We work with you through each step of that decision with the full context of your employment situation in front of us.
