Severance Agreement Lawyer in Chicago, IL

A severance agreement is one of the most important legal documents you may sign during your career, yet many employees accept severance packages without fully understanding their rights. At Liberum Law, our severance agreement lawyers in Chicago review, negotiate, and, when necessary, challenge unfair severance terms on behalf of employees throughout Illinois.

Employers typically present severance agreements when terminating an employee. These agreements usually offer a financial payment in exchange for a release of all legal claims against the company. While severance pay can provide a financial cushion during your job search, the terms of the agreement often heavily favor the employer.

Common provisions in severance agreements that require careful legal review include general release of claims covering discrimination, harassment, and wage violations, non-compete and non-solicitation clauses that may restrict your future employment, confidentiality provisions that limit what you can say about the company, non-disparagement clauses that prevent you from sharing your experience, cooperation clauses requiring you to assist in future litigation, and clawback provisions that can require return of severance pay.

Our employment attorneys analyze every provision of your severance agreement and identify terms that are unfavorable, unenforceable, or that waive valuable legal claims. We then negotiate with your employer for improved terms — often securing higher severance payments, extended benefits, favorable references, and removal of restrictive covenants.

Employees over 40 have additional protections under the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA), which requires employers to provide specific disclosures and a 21-day consideration period (or 45 days in group layoffs) before the waiver of age discrimination claims is valid. Our attorneys ensure these requirements are met.

Before you sign any severance agreement, schedule a free consultation with our employment lawyers at Liberum Law. A thorough legal review can make a significant difference in your financial outcome and future career flexibility.