Tag Archives: employment

Backlash Builds for Noncompetes

Posted on July 3, 2019 by Joe Ahmad

For a generation of workers, noncompete agreements have steadily crept into more and more facets of the working world to the point that even low- and middle-wage earners are increasingly being asked to sign the agreements as a condition of … Continue reading →

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C-Suite Lessons from Ghosn’s Nissan Ouster

Posted on December 5, 2018 by Joe Ahmad

For Carlos Ghosn – one of the highest-flying chief executives in the world (literally) – home has been a 50-square-foot cell since Japanese authorities announced a series of vague allegations against him for underreporting his compensation and misusing company property. … Continue reading →

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Dating App Execs Make Failed Tinder-Bumble Merger Personal

Posted on June 8, 2018 by Joe Ahmad

A nasty court fight unfolding between Texas-based dating apps Tinder and Bumble has all of the elements of a soap opera drama – romance, unfaithfulness, intrigue and, of course, revenge. The mess began just four years ago with a bitter … Continue reading →

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Uber Leadership Vacuum Exposes Strings Attached to Startup Financing

Posted on September 20, 2017 by Joe Ahmad

The executive leadership vacuum at Uber and a series of PR missteps and management blunders is exposing the contentious push-pull dynamic between private equity and venture capital investors and startups that usually plays out behind the scenes and rarely makes … Continue reading →

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Errant Email Steers Uber into Trade Secret Trouble

Posted on April 24, 2017 by Joe Ahmad

It’s too early to know the degree of vetting that occurred before Uber handed Anthony Levandowski nearly $700 million for his fledgling autonomous truck company named Otto and brought him aboard to lead Uber’s self-driving vehicle division. A high-profile trade … Continue reading →

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Picture that text you just wrote on the screen in a courtroom

Posted on December 8, 2016 by Joe Ahmad

Executives know better than to put questionable statements in email, right? Well, it is past time to realize the same goes for texts. Just like a Miranda warning: Anything you text can and will be used against you in a court of law. Continue reading →

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NFL lessons for the C-Suite on succession planning, Exhibit 1: Tony Romo

Posted on November 17, 2016 by Joe Ahmad

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has himself in an ideal succession situation. He waited to draft the perfect candidate – Dak Prescott. He and can now let potential future star quarterback Prescott learn while aging star Tony Romo still has the ball. Boards and C-Suite folks should think like Jones: Keep your stars in place, but keep an eye on the future of the company. Continue reading →

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Massage Envy No More

Posted on July 28, 2016 by Joe Ahmad

Houston Chronicle business columnist Chris Tomlinson recently interviewed me about how a woman’s search for a better job landed her in serious legal trouble. The unfortunate story involves Maxie Foster, who worked for years as a receptionist to pay her … Continue reading →

Posted in Confidential Information, Corporate culture, Covenants Not to Compete, Executive Compensation, Executive contracts, Litigation, Non-Competes, Trade Secrets | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Massage Envy No More

Crass Executive Spending Puts Leading Veterans Charity under a Cloud

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Joe Ahmad

As obvious as it seems, abusing an expense account with lavish personal spending is one of the most common ways a CEO can get into trouble. Being an executive comes with reasonable perks that are necessary and helpful to doing the job. But some people get carried away and forget that these funds are not for their personal use and enjoyment. Continue reading →

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What’s the Best Way to Take People With You to a New Company?

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Joe Ahmad

I’ve devoted a couple of blogs (here and here) to what things executives should and should not take with them when they change employers. Simply playing that part right can help avoid litigation with former employers. Where it gets really … Continue reading →

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