When facing a severance offer, you're not just negotiating a check. You're negotiating your future—your ability to work in your field, start a business, protect your reputation, and move forward without legal risk hanging over your head.

At The Utah Employment Lawyer (Crook Legal Group), we believe in transparency. Rather than making vague promises about what we might achieve, we're sharing the actual results from our severance negotiation cases—both the financial improvements and the critical legal protections we've secured for our clients.

Our Track Record: More Than Just Money

We analyzed the most recent 24 severance negotiation cases handled by The Utah Employment Lawyer. These cases span various industries, company sizes, and severance amounts—from a few thousand dollars to nearly half a million.

The results tell a story about comprehensive value: yes, we increased financial compensation in most cases, but just as importantly, we improved the legal terms that protect our clients' careers, reputations, and futures.

While every severance situation is unique and past results don't guarantee future outcomes, these numbers reflect what we've actually achieved for our clients.

What Employers Initially Offered Our Clients

Average Initial Offer: $71,565.82
Median Initial Offer: $29,223.00
Range: $0 to $476,560

What We Negotiated for Our Clients

Average Final Settlement: $92,914.52
Median Final Settlement: $48,160.68
Range: $4,615.40 to $476,560

The difference between what employers initially put on the table and what our clients ultimately received is significant. We increased the median offer from $29,223 to $48,160.68—representing substantial value for our clients.

But these dollar figures only tell part of the story. In 83.3% of our cases (20 out of 24), we also negotiated improved legal protections that don't show up in the settlement amount but can be even more valuable over time.

The Financial Improvements We Delivered

The financial impact is measurable and significant:

• Average gain per client: $21,348.70
• Median gain per client: $9,790.45
• Total value delivered to clients: $512,368.81
• Largest single gain: $104,390.80

These numbers represent real dollars our clients kept that would have otherwise been left on the table. But we measure success by more than just the check amount—because your severance agreement affects much more than your bank account.

Our Success Rate: Two Ways to Win

We believe in transparency, which means sharing both successes and limitations. When we measure "success," we look at two dimensions:

Financial Improvements:

• 62.5% of our cases resulted in higher financial compensation (15 out of 24 cases)
• 37.5% ended with the same financial amount as the initial offer

Legal Protection Improvements:

• 83.3% of our cases resulted in better legal protections (20 out of 24 cases)
• This includes more favorable non-compete terms, better confidentiality provisions, improved intellectual property rights, and other critical protections

Here's what this means: Even in cases where we didn't increase the dollar amount, we often secured significantly better legal terms. Some of our clients who received the same financial amount walked away with drastically improved non-compete provisions that preserved their ability to work in their field—a protection worth far more than a few thousand extra dollars.

Conversely, some clients who received financial increases also gained crucial legal protections. The best outcomes deliver both.

The Range of Financial Improvements We Achieved

For cases where we successfully increased the initial offer:

• Average increase: 81.0%
• Median increase: 16.2%

The significant difference between average and median tells an important story. We achieved dramatic increases in several cases (several hundred percent), while many others saw more modest but still meaningful improvements in the 15-50% range. The outcomes depend heavily on the specific circumstances of each case, the strength of potential claims, and the employer's initial position.

The Legal Protections We Secured: What They Mean for Your Future

In 83.3% of our cases (20 out of 24), we negotiated improved non-financial terms. These protections often matter more than the dollar amount because they determine what you can do after you leave:

Non-Compete Provisions

Overly broad non-compete clauses can prevent you from working in your industry, starting a business, or taking your dream job. We've successfully:

• Narrowed geographic restrictions
• Shortened time periods
• Limited scope to truly competitive activities
• Eliminated non-competes entirely in some cases

Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Terms

Employers often try to silence you from discussing anything about your employment. We've negotiated provisions that:

• Allow you to discuss your job duties and accomplishments with future employers
• Permit truthful responses to reference checks
• Enable you to defend yourself if the company disparages you
• Protect your ability to report illegal conduct to authorities

Intellectual Property Rights

Your ideas and creations may be more valuable than your severance check. We've secured:

• Rights to inventions you created on your own time
• Clarity on what materials you can use in future work
• Return of personal files and work samples for your portfolio
• Protection for side projects and business ideas

Dispute Resolution and Releases

The release of claims in your severance agreement determines what legal rights you're giving up. We've improved:

• Carve-outs for claims the employer can't legally require you to waive
• Mutual releases that protect you from future claims by the employer
• Fair dispute resolution procedures
• Attorney fee provisions if disputes arise

Benefits and Practical Matters

Beyond the major legal issues, we've secured:

• Extended health insurance coverage
• Continued vesting of equity or retirement benefits
• Positive reference letter language
• Return of personal property
• Transition assistance and career counseling

These protections have real value. A client who negotiates away a 2-year non-compete that would have blocked them from working in their field gains far more than $20,000 in extra severance—they gain two years of earning potential.

What Our Results Mean for You

If you're considering Crook Legal Group for your severance negotiation, our track record offers several insights:

1. Success takes multiple forms: Nearly two-thirds of our cases achieved higher financial compensation, but over 80% achieved better legal protections. Even if the dollar amount doesn't change, better legal terms can be transformational.
2. The non-financial terms often matter more: A $10,000 increase in severance pay is nice. Eliminating a 2-year non-compete that blocks you from earning $200,000+ in that time period? That's life-changing.
3. Initial offers are rarely final offers: The median offer we received from employers was $29,223. We negotiated that up to $48,160.68—a 65% increase. Employers often leave room to negotiate.
4. Typical gains are meaningful: Our median financial gain of $9,790.45 represents significant money for most people. And this doesn't account for the value of improved legal protections.
5. We're honest about limitations: More than one-third of our cases saw no financial improvement. Some employers do present their best offer initially. We won't promise results we can't guarantee, but our track record speaks to what we've actually achieved.
6. The protections we secure have lasting impact: Long after the severance money is spent, the legal terms we negotiated continue to affect our clients' careers, businesses, and peace of mind.

Factors That Influence Outcomes

Individual results depend on numerous factors, both for financial improvements and legal protections:

Financial Outcomes Depend On:

• The employer's negotiating position and policies
• The circumstances of the employment termination
• The strength of potential legal claims
• The completeness of the initial offer
• Company size and resources
• Industry norms and practices
• Your length of service and position level

Non-Financial Protections Depend On:

• How broadly the employer drafted initial restrictions
• Your industry and role (some fields have stricter non-competes)
• Whether you have unique knowledge or relationships
• The employer's concerns about competition
• Your future career plans and how they align with restrictions
• State law limitations on enforceability
• Your leverage in the negotiation

Often, improving the legal protections is more achievable than increasing the dollar amount—especially when the employer has a fixed severance formula but flexibility on legal terms.

Making an Informed Decision

When deciding whether to seek professional representation for your severance negotiation, consider the full scope of what's at stake:

Consider the Financial Impact:

• Our median client gained nearly $10,000 in additional severance
• Some gained over $100,000
• Even if the money doesn't increase, you'll know you didn't leave money on the table

But Also Consider the Legal Implications:

• Can you work for a competitor? Start a business? Consult in your field?
• What can you tell future employers about your job and accomplishments?
• Who owns the intellectual property you created?
• What legal claims are you releasing? Should you release them?
• Can you get a positive reference?
• How long does your health insurance continue?

Think About Your Future:

‍A too-broad non-compete clause can cost you far more than the severance check. If you're blocked from working in your field for 1-2 years, you're not just losing your severance—you're losing 1-2 years of salary, career advancement, and professional development.

Similarly, overly restrictive confidentiality provisions can make it impossible to demonstrate your skills and accomplishments to future employers, potentially costing you job opportunities.

Evaluate the Complexity:

• Simple, straightforward offers with reasonable terms may need less legal input
• Complex packages with equity, non-competes, and confidentiality provisions typically benefit from professional review
• If you're in a specialized field or senior role, the restrictions may be particularly onerous

Consider Your Situation:

• Do you have potential legal claims beyond what you're being offered?
• Is the employer asking you to release significant rights?
• Do you understand all the legal terms in the agreement?
• Are you being asked to sign quickly without time to review?

The question isn't just "Will I get more money?" It's "Will I protect my future, preserve my career options, and ensure I'm not giving up valuable rights?"

The Bottom Line: Our Track Record of Comprehensive Results

The data from 24 severance negotiations by The Utah Employment Lawyer demonstrates the value we provide across multiple dimensions:

Financial Results:

• Average gain of $21,348.70 per client
• Median gain of $9,790.45 per client
• 62.5% of cases achieved financial improvements
• Total of $512,368.81 delivered to our clients

Legal Protection Results:

• 83.3% of cases achieved improved legal protections
• Better non-compete provisions that preserve career options
• Improved confidentiality terms that protect your professional reputation
• Enhanced intellectual property rights
• Fairer dispute resolution procedures

What This Means:‍

Success isn't just about getting a bigger check—it's about protecting your future. The non-compete we eliminate or narrow today determines whether you can work in your field next year. The confidentiality provisions we revise determine whether you can tell your professional story to future employers. The intellectual property rights we clarify determine whether you can use your own ideas and creations.

We approach these statistics with appropriate honesty: not every case will match these averages, and 37.5% of our cases saw no financial improvement. But even in those cases, we often secured significantly better legal protections. The value of our representation depends on the specific circumstances of your situation and what matters most for your future.

If you're facing a severance offer, we invite you to schedule a consultation with The Utah Employment Lawyer. We'll review your specific situation—both the financial terms and the legal restrictions—and provide an honest assessment of what we can likely achieve and whether our representation makes sense for you.

Don't just focus on the severance amount. Focus on the full agreement and what it means for your future.

Ready to discuss your severance offer? Contact The Utah Employment Lawyer (Crook Legal Group) today.

Note: This analysis is based on historical case data from The Utah Employment Lawyer (Crook Legal Group) and is provided for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every severance situation is unique, and results will vary based on individual circumstances.

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