Severance Negotiation Lawyer in Dallas

You got a severance offer, and the number feels low. Or you got nothing at all. Before you sign away your rights, talk to someone who negotiates these every day. Carter Law Group reviews and negotiates severance agreements for Dallas employees, and the consultation is free.
Four cases tried to verdict in the last two calendar years. Female-owned plaintiffs’ firm.

What a Severance Negotiation Actually Involves

A severance agreement is a contract. Your employer offers you money, benefits, or both. In exchange, you sign a release giving up your right to sue. That trade is not always fair, and the first offer is almost never the best one.

Texas has no law requiring employers to offer severance. It is an at-will employment state. But when an employer does make an offer, it is because they want something from you: a clean exit and a signed release. That gives you leverage, even if the offer feels like a take-it-or-leave-it.

At Carter Law Group, we review the full agreement, identify what you’re giving up, and negotiate terms that reflect what your situation is actually worth. That includes the money, but it also includes non-compete restrictions, benefits continuation, reference language, and the scope of the release itself. If the termination involved discrimination, retaliation, or another legal violation, those claims change the value of the negotiation entirely.

When You Need a Severance Lawyer

You received a lowball offer after a layoff

The employer is banking on urgency. A lawyer can slow the process down and push the number to where it should be.

You were asked to resign and offered a package

Resign or be fired” is a pressure tactic. The package terms are negotiable, and the underlying facts may support additional claims.

You were fired and offered severance in exchange for a release

The release waives your right to sue. Before you sign, a lawyer should evaluate whether you have claims worth more than what’s on the table.

You're negotiating an executive exit

Higher-earning employees have more at stake and more room to negotiate on compensation, equity, deferred pay, and transition terms.

Your severance includes a non-compete

A non-compete clause can restrict where you work next. Negotiating its scope or duration can be as valuable as increasing the payout.

You received no offer at all

If you were terminated and your employer offered nothing, a lawyer can assess whether the circumstances support a demand for severance, especially if the termination raises legal concerns.

If any of this sounds familiar, call us. The consultation is free, and you’ll know where you stand before you commit to anything.
Schedule Free Consultation
CALL (214) 390-4173

What to Do Before You Sign

01.

Don't sign anything yet
Most people feel pressure to sign fast. If you’re 40 or older, federal law gives you at least 21 days to review an individual severance offer (45 days in a group layoff). If you’re under 40, there’s no federal minimum, but you can still ask for more time. Employers expect it.

02.

Read the full agreement, not just the dollar amount
The payout is one piece. Look for the release of claims (what legal rights you’re waiving), any non-compete or non-solicitation clauses, confidentiality requirements, non-disparagement language, and how benefits like health insurance are handled after your last day. Each of these carries its own value and its own risk.

03.

Write down what happened at work

Before your memory fades, document the circumstances of your departure. Include dates, conversations, emails, and anything that felt retaliatory, discriminatory, or connected to a complaint you made. This information matters if there’s an underlying legal claim that changes the value of your severance.

04.

Think about whether you have claims beyond severance

A severance negotiation isn’t just about the offer on the table. If you were fired after reporting harassment, denied a raise because of your gender, or pushed out during a pregnancy, those claims may be worth significantly more than the severance package alone. At Carter Law Group, we look for claims other firms miss, including situations where wrongful termination, equal pay violations, or workplace retaliation intersect with the separation.

05.

Talk to a severance lawyer before the deadline runs

You don’t commit to anything by calling. A free consultation gives you a clear picture of what your agreement actually says, what you may be giving up, and what a realistic negotiation looks like. Carter Law Group offers flat-fee severance negotiation starting at $5,000, so you know the cost before you decide.

How Carter Law Group Handles Severance Cases

01.

Free consultation and case intake

Every severance case starts with a free conversation. Amy Carter personally reviews your situation, including the offer, the circumstances of your departure, and any facts that might support a separate legal claim.

02.

Full agreement review

We go through the entire severance agreement. Not just the dollar figure. We review the release of claims, restrictive covenants (non-competes, non-solicitation), confidentiality terms, benefits and COBRA provisions, reference-letter language, and any other terms that affect your career or your rights going forward.

03.

Claim assessment

If the facts around your termination suggest discrimination, retaliation, harassment, or another employment law violation, those claims change the calculus. We identify them and factor them into the negotiation strategy, which can mean the difference between a modest package and a substantially larger one.

04.

Negotiation

We negotiate directly with your employer or their counsel on the terms that matter most: the payout, the non-compete scope, the reference language, benefits continuation, and the breadth of the release. The firm’s trial record gives weight to every conversation at the table.

05.

Resolution

Once the terms are finalized, we walk you through the final agreement, confirm you understand everything you’re signing, and handle any remaining details before the deadline.
Schedule Free Consultation

Deadlines That Affect Your Severance

Time matters in a severance negotiation, and the rules are different depending on your age.

If you’re 40 or older: The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA) gives you specific protections when a severance agreement asks you to waive age discrimination claims. For an individual separation, you get 21 days to consider the offer. For a group layoff or exit incentive program, you get 45 days. After you sign, you have 7 days to revoke.

These deadlines are federal law. Your employer cannot shorten them, and an agreement that does not honor them may be unenforceable.

If you’re under 40: The OWBPA protections do not apply. There is no federal or Texas law requiring a minimum consideration period for employees under 40. Your employer sets the deadline, and some employers set aggressive ones. That is a reason to move quickly, not a reason to skip legal review.

A distinction most legal websites get wrong: Many resources describe the 7-day revocation period as a general right under Texas law or a standard feature of all severance agreements. It is not. The 7-day revocation window is a federal protection under the OWBPA, and it applies only to employees 40 and older who are being asked to release age discrimination claims. If you’re under 40, you do not get a revocation period unless the agreement specifically includes one.

Regardless of your age, starting the conversation with a lawyer early gives you the most room to negotiate. Waiting until the final day before a deadline leaves little time to make changes.

What Severance Negotiation Costs

Carter Law Group offers two fee structures for severance negotiation, and both start with a free consultation.

Flat fee. The standard engagement is a flat fee of $5,000 to $10,000 to review and negotiate the agreement, depending on the complexity of the negotiation. You know the cost before any work begins.

Performance-based fee. When there is meaningful room to negotiate above an existing offer, the firm can instead take a fee only on the amount it secures above what you were already offered. If the firm does not improve the offer, you don’t pay on that portion.

Either way, you are not paying by the hour, and the first conversation costs nothing.

  • Free consultation with no obligation
  • Flat fee quoted before work starts
  • No hourly billing on severance matters
  • No hidden costs
Schedule Free Consultation

Why Carter Law Group for Severance

Trial experience changes the math

Most severance is negotiated against the backdrop of what would happen if the case went to court. When your lawyer has tried four cases to verdict in the last two years, the employer’s calculation changes. That leverage is built into every negotiation.

We find claims other firms miss

Amy Carter spent decades in complex pharmaceutical and product liability cases before building the firm’s employment practice. That cross-disciplinary background means the firm regularly identifies overlapping legal theories in a single termination: retaliation plus discrimination, or wrongful termination plus a whistleblower claim. Each one increases your leverage at the table.

Transparent pricing

The flat-fee structure means you know what severance negotiation costs before you commit. No hourly billing. No open-ended retainer. No surprises.

Female-led, plaintiff-side

Every attorney at Carter Law Group is a woman. Clients, including men, regularly say that’s why they called. The firm represents employees, not employers.

The Attorneys Behind Your Negotiation

The team handling your severance case brings trial experience and operational depth that most employment firms in Dallas cannot match.
  • Amy Carter, Managing Shareholder and CEO Amy founded the firm in 2019 after decades of complex litigation across the country. She personally reviews every severance case and conducts the initial consultation. Super Lawyers (Texas), 2017 through 2025.
  • Heather V. Davis, Partner and COO Heather runs the firm's pre-litigation work, including severance negotiation strategy, demand letters, and mediation. D Magazine Best Lawyers Under 40, 2021 and 2025. National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40.
Meet Our Attorneys

Sarah Maverick

I have worked with these ladies on a professional project that to be honest, can be lengthy, time consuming, and at times annoying. These women are caring, professional, and strong. Anytime that I needed to converse in length or needed clarification or a question answered always spot on.

Heather has even taken calls on the weekend while we try to finalize details and both of our kids are vying for our attention. If you are a woman looking for representation by someone who understands women and will remind you both professionally and personally that you are not alone, you found them. But you are here so I suspect you are in love with them already.

Thanks ladies for being top notch and I appreciate everything.

Tammy Russell

Thank you all again so much for taking the time to go to bat for someone like me. I am so very much appreciative and grateful to have been connected with all 3 of you! You all listened to me when I felt lost and scared and when I thought there was no hope. I’m normally everyone’s rock but this time you were mine. Thank you for your ongoing patience and perseverance! You all have given me more confidence in fighting for what’s right more than ever. If I ever need help again….HOPEFULLY NOT….you all will get pinged! For anyone needing legal representation and button pushers….look no further! For anyone that has been wronged or hurt in any kind of way, don’t just brush it under the rug thinking nothing can be done. Step up people!! Fight for what’s right and for justice! I did! Contact them! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Erika H

I’m very blessed and appreciative to have found Carter Law Group and have them represent us in this stressful moment in life. Their compassion and careful handling of our case shows their professionalism.

They fought and gave my family and all involved justice. God bless them and give them the fortitude to continue to help the innocent. Thank you for representing us.

Sarah Heath

My experience with Carter Law Group was definitely Five-Star. From my initial consultation, I felt like I was truly heard, valued, and cared for during one of the most stressful events in my life. They stayed on top of all the details and fought alongside me for the best possible conclusion.

Heather, Amy, and Tonja helped me to impact positive change for others who will come after me.

Rhonda Craven

Carter Law Group was fantastic. They were very thorough and made me feel comfortable. I was glad I chose them to represent me. Thanks Amy!!

Tameca Harris

Carter Law Group was very professional and proficient with my case. I was very satisfied with the service.

Misty Farris

Amy and Heather are smart, hardworking, and passionate lawyers who care about their clients.

Questions About Severance Negotiation

Do I have to accept my employer's severance offer?
No. A severance offer is a starting point, not a final answer. Employers expect negotiation, especially with employees who have leverage: tenure, specialized knowledge, potential legal claims, or public-facing roles. You can counter on the dollar amount, the non-compete, the release scope, benefits continuation, or any other term in the agreement.
If you’re 40 or older and the agreement asks you to waive age discrimination claims, the OWBPA requires your employer to give you at least 21 days to consider an individual offer or 45 days for a group layoff. After you sign, you have 7 days to revoke. If you’re under 40, there is no federal or state minimum in Texas. The employer sets the deadline, and some set it short. Either way, contacting a lawyer early gives you the most flexibility.
Technically, yes. In practice, it almost never happens. Employers offer severance because they want a signed release. Rescinding the offer over a negotiation attempt costs them the release and potentially invites a lawsuit. Most employers respond to a reasonable counteroffer with a counter of their own.
The core of a severance agreement is the release of claims. You are giving up your right to sue over anything related to your employment: discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage disputes. That release is what the employer is paying for. Before you sign, you should know whether any of those claims are worth more than what you have been offered.
Yes. Termination does not eliminate your leverage. If your employer is offering severance after a firing, they still want a clean separation and a signed release. If the firing involved conduct that could support a legal claim, your leverage is even stronger. At Carter Law Group, we regularly negotiate severance for employees who were fired, not just those who were laid off or asked to resign.
It depends on the numbers. If you already have an offer on the table and the firm can negotiate a significantly higher amount, the performance-based structure may make sense. If the negotiation is complex or involves non-monetary terms (non-compete restrictions, reference language, benefits), the flat fee gives you cost certainty. Amy walks you through both options during the free consultation.

Related Employment Law Claims

Many severance negotiations involve more than just the package. The circumstances behind your separation may support a separate legal claim, and that claim changes the value of the negotiation.

Serving Dallas and the DFW Metroplex

Carter Law Group represents employees in severance negotiations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including:
Dallas County
Oak Cliff
Bishop Arts District
Collin County
Tarrant County
Johnson County
Grayson County
Plano
Frisco
Arlington
Irving
Garland
Richardson
Grapevine
Southlake
Denton
The firm also handles employment matters statewide in Texas and in federal courts.

Talk to a Severance Lawyer Today

You don’t pay anything to find out where you stand. The consultation is free, the flat fee is quoted before work begins, and you’re never locked in. If you have a severance agreement in front of you, or you think you should, call us.
Schedule Free Consultation
CALL (214) 390-4173