Wheaton Attorneys for Highly-Compensated Employees

DuPage County Employment Lawyers for Executive Compensation and Benefits

Employment Counsel for Executives and Highly Compensated Employees Protecting Your Career, Your Compensation, and Your Future — DuPage County and the Chicago Metro Area

Executives and highly compensated employees face different employment law issues. The stakes are high, the agreements are more complex, and the decisions made at critical moments — accepting an offer, navigating a transition, or responding to a termination — can have consequences that echo for years. At Molho and Associates, LLC, we provide experienced counsel to executives, entrepreneurs, and high-earning professionals who need a lawyer right now that understands the full picture.

Ross Molho has nearly 30 years of experience in employment law, representing both employers and employees at the highest levels. That dual perspective is a significant advantage: we understand how companies think, how they draft agreements, and where they build in leverage — and we use that knowledge to protect you. We tell you to push harder and when to back off.

Issues We Handle for Executives and High-Earning Professionals

• Employment contracts and offer letters — An employment agreement defines your duties, your compensation structure, your termination rights, and your exposure to post-employment restrictions. We review and negotiate employment contracts to ensure that every material term — including change-of-control provisions, claw back clauses, and at-will carve-outs, like termination for good reason — reflects your interests and is clearly defined before you sign.
• Executive compensation and benefits — Sophisticated compensation packages require more review. We advise executives on base salary and bonus structures, equity and stock option grants, deferred compensation arrangements, supplemental executive retirement plans (SERPs), and perquisites. We help clients understand what they are being offered, what is negotiable, and what the tax and legal implications of each component are.
• Carried interest and equity participation — For executives and senior professionals in investment management, private equity, and venture-backed companies, carried interest and equity participation are often the most valuable components of compensation — and the most contested when a relationship ends. We counsel clients on the terms governing their equity and carried interest rights, vesting schedules, and disputes that arise when those rights are challenged.
• Severance negotiations — When an executive’s employment ends — whether by termination, resignation under pressure, or a change of control — the severance agreement presented by the company needs review and discussion. We negotiate severance packages that reflect the true value of what you are giving up, including the release of claims, the scope of non-disparagement obligations, and the treatment of unvested equity or deferred compensation.
• Non-compete and restrictive covenant analysis — Non-compete, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements can significantly constrain your ability to work after leaving an employer. Illinois law governing restrictive covenants has evolved substantially in recent years, and enforceability depends on a fact-specific analysis of scope, duration, geography, and the consideration provided. We evaluate these agreements honestly — telling you what is likely enforceable, what is not, and what your options are.
• Professional employment disputes — Physicians, attorneys, financial professionals, and other licensed practitioners face employment disputes that intersect with professional licensing, tail insurance obligations, and industry-specific contractual arrangements. We have represented professionals in these matters, including disputes over wrongful termination, tail coverage obligations, and compensation owed at separation.

What to Expect When You Work With Us

Our practice is intentionally selective. We work with a limited number of clients at a time so that every matter receives direct, partner-level attention from Ross Molho. You will not be passed to an associate. You will get candid advice, prompt communication, and a lawyer who has taken the time to understand your career, your goals, and what is at stake. When the situation calls for it, we move quickly — employment decisions rarely wait. We will talk with you day or night, 24/7, on weekends or holidays.

Schedule a Confidential Consultation

If you are an executive or high-earning professional facing an employment issue — at any stage of your career — we invite you to reach out for a confidential consultation. Call 630-517-2622 to speak directly with Ross Molho. We represent executives and professionals throughout DuPage County, Wheaton, Naperville, Downers Grove, Kane County, St. Charles, and Chicago.