Employee Equity Compensation Attorney in Boston, MA
You worked hard to earn those stock options. Now your company is talking about an IPO, a merger, or a layoff. What happens to your equity? Can you exercise your options if you leave? Will your RSUs vest before the deal closes? These are not simple questions, and the wrong answer can cost you real money. An equity compensation attorney in Boston at Whitney Law Group can review your situation before you make any decisions. We help employees at startups, biotech firms, and financial companies throughout the Greater Boston area protect the equity they have earned.
Why Boston Employees Choose Whitney Law Group for their Equity Compensation Needs
Boston has one of the most active equity compensation markets in the country. From the innovation economy in Kendall Square to the financial services firms in the Financial District, thousands of employees here hold stock options, restricted stock units, and performance share awards. Whitney Law Group understands how these instruments work in practice, not just on paper. We know how founder equity is structured. We know what venture-backed vesting schedules look like. We know what happens when a Somerville startup gets acquired by a California tech firm and what that means for your options. Attorney Mark Whitney brings real-world experience to these deals. We help Boston employees understand what their equity is actually worth and fight for their rights when vesting is denied or cut short.
Equity Compensation Attorney Services in Boston
Equity compensation takes many forms, and Whitney Law Group helps Boston employees with all of them. We review stock option agreements, including ISOs and NSOs. We analyze RSU award agreements and look at grant terms, vesting conditions, and tax implications. We examine performance share units and the metrics tied to their payout. We look at what happens to your equity when your employment ends, whether you resigned, were laid off, or were terminated for cause. We help clients understand 83(b) elections, exercise windows, and blackout periods. We also handle equity disputes, including situations where an employer denies vesting, improperly cancels grants, or misrepresents the value of equity at the time it was offered. If you received equity as part of your compensation and your employer is not honoring the agreement, Whitney Law Group will fight for what you are owed. We serve employees throughout Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Waltham, and the full Route 128 technology corridor.
What Clients in Boston Are Saying
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:My Boston employer was just acquired. What happens to my unvested RSUs?
It depends on your agreement and the deal structure. Some RSUs accelerate on a change of control. Others convert to acquirer shares. We can review your grant documents and tell you exactly where you stand.
Q:I left my Boston company. How long do I have to exercise my stock options?
Most option agreements give you 90 days after separation. Some give more, some less. Check your agreement right away because missing the window means losing your options entirely.
Q: Can my employer take back my vested equity after I resign?
In most cases, no. Vested equity is yours. But some agreements contain clawback provisions. A review of your documents will tell you if you are at risk.