CALIFORNIA EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEY
Executive Employment Counsel for California Leaders
We advise executives, founders, and senior professionals on the agreements and departures that shape a career. Discreet, deliberate, and always on your side of the table.
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About Cunningham Law
Fifteen Years Advising the Executives Sitting Across the Table From Us.
By the time an executive is handed an offer, an equity grant, or a separation agreement, the document has already passed through the company's counsel, its compensation committee, and its outside advisors. It reflects their interests precisely. Rarely does anyone review it with the executive's interests in mind.
That is the work of this firm. For more than fifteen years, Cunningham Law has represented senior professionals across California in the negotiations that determine what a career is ultimately worth — employment and separation terms, equity and deferred compensation, restrictive covenants, and the disputes that occasionally follow.
Engagements are handled personally by Michael Cunningham, quietly and without escalation wherever possible. Most matters resolve without the other side ever describing it as a dispute.
We've Negotiated Millions for California Executives
Severance · Equity & Compensation · Employment Agreements · Non-Competes · Executive Disputes
HOW WE HELP
Know What You Are Worth.
We Help You Negotiate Like It.
From the offer letter you sign on the way in to the separation agreement you negotiate on the way out, we help executives at every stage of their career understand their full leverage and use it — on financial terms, equity treatment, and every provision that follows them after they leave.
Severance Agreements
Review and negotiation of separation packages, release language, transition terms, and post-employment restrictions before anything is signed.
Executive Employment Agreements
Offer terms, change-of-control and good-reason provisions, bonus structure, indemnification, and the covenants that follow you to your next role.
Equity & Executive Compensation
Options, RSUs, profits interests, and deferred compensation, valued and preserved through vesting, acceleration, forfeiture, and departure.
Executive Disputes
Confidential resolution of termination, retaliation, and compensation claims through negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.
Severance Agreements
Review and negotiation of separation packages, release language, transition terms, and post-employment restrictions before anything is signed.
Executive Employment Agreements
Offer terms, change-of-control and good-reason provisions, bonus structure, indemnification, and the covenants that follow you to your next role.
Equity & Executive Compensation
Options, RSUs, profits interests, and deferred compensation, valued and preserved through vesting, acceleration, forfeiture, and departure.
Executive Disputes
Confidential resolution of termination, retaliation, and compensation claims through negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.
representative results
$187K
Severance Package
Financial Institution
3x
Increase Over Initial Offer
TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
2x
Increase Over Initial Offer
BIOTECH COMPANY
30,000+
Additional Shares Negotiated
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY
OUR APPROACH
Strategic. Confidential.
Built Around Your Outcome.
Many of our clients are still employed when they call us. They are sitting with a severance offer, reviewing a new contract, or quietly planning a departure. Discretion is not optional in this work — it is the foundation of it.
We move carefully, communicate clearly, and focus entirely on securing the best available outcome for your specific situation. No unnecessary escalation. No prolonged uncertainty. Just experienced counsel and a clear path forward.
"The goal is never to create conflict. The goal is to make sure you never have to accept less than what you are owed."
Why Cunningham Law
Get Access To The Caliber of Counsel
Your Employer Already Has on Their Side.
We built this firm around a simple premise: executives deserve the same quality of strategic legal counsel that their employers retain.
We deliver that, selectively and personally, to a limited number of clients who understand the value of getting it right.
Confidential by Default
Many of our clients are still employed when they contact us. Every inquiry is protected by attorney-client privilege from the first conversation. We work quietly, move efficiently, and handle matters with the discretion that executive relationships require.
Selective Practice
We do not take on every case that comes to us. We take the ones where experienced counsel makes a measurable difference in the outcome. That selectivity is not a limitation — it is what allows us to give every client the depth of attention their situation deserves.
Three Locations. Statewide Reach.
With client meeting locations in Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and San Diego, we are conveniently accessible to executives throughout California. Most consultations are conducted by phone or Zoom for efficiency — but when an in-person meeting makes sense, we are there.
Deep Tech & Equity Fluency
RSU schedules, option grants, acceleration clauses, clawback provisions, and 409A valuations. You will not need to explain how your compensation works. We already know — and we know exactly how to protect it.
Personal Attention Backed by a Capable Team
Cunningham Law operates as a boutique practice for a reason. Michael Cunningham is personally involved in every matter we take, supported by an experienced team, but never replaced by one. You get the resources of a well-staffed firm with the direct access of a solo practitioner.
Transparent Flat Fee Structure
You will know exactly what the engagement costs before any work begins. No hourly billing, no surprise invoices, no ambiguity. Predictable pricing for professionals who value clarity.
Client Reviews
What Clients Say About Working With
Cunningham Law
We let our clients speak for themselves.
★★★★★
"Professional, Prompt, Fair and Transparent"
"Mike and his staff are amazing! Professional, prompt, fair and transparent – they embody what someone could hope for in a legal team. Legal matters are intimidating, but Mike breaks it down so it’s understandable. Hope I don’t need their services again, but I won’t hesitate to call them first if I do."
★★★★★
"I strongly recommend Cunningham Law"
"The group at Cunningham Law did an outstanding job for me! The communication was excellent, and the milestones were accomplished in a timely manner. I participated throughout the process, was kept informed regarding the progress, and a good result was obtained."
★★★★★
"His advice was strong and his guidance was exactly on target"
"Mr. Cunningham was professional and help my with my circumstances. His advice was strong and his guidance was exactly on target. If you have an issues it is worth talking to Mr. Cunningham and let him give you his professional opinion. I was/am satisfied with the outcome and his services. I would recommend him to anyone."
HOW TO GET STARTED
From Inquiry to Strategy in less than 48 Hours.
Step 1.
Confidential Consultation
You speak directly with an attorney about your situation and your documents. Nothing you share leaves the conversation, whether or not we go further.
Step 2.
Clear Engagement Terms
Scope, timeline, and fees are set out in writing before any work begins. You know what the engagement covers and what it will cost.
Step 3.
Strategic Analysis & Counsel
We assess leverage, model the economics, and negotiate on your behalf, keeping you informed and in control of every decision through resolution.
Before You Sign Anything, Talk to Us.
Every inquiry is protected by attorney-client privilege from the first conversation.
SILICON VALLEY · LOS ANGELES · SAN DIEGO
We Serve Executives Throughout California
Cunningham Law, APC represents employees across California, including professionals in Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Riverside, Sacramento, the Bay Area, and other major metropolitan regions. Whether you are reviewing a severance agreement, negotiating an executive separation package, or addressing workplace concerns, our firm is committed to helping you protect your rights and maximize your outcome.
CONTACT
Schedule a Confidential Consultation
Fill out the form, or call directly. Every inquiry is reviewed by an attorney and held in confidence.
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