Counteroffer vs employment lawyer
Counteroffer · Answers · general Source: https://trycounteroffer.com/answers/counteroffer-vs-employment-lawyer
Short answer: Counteroffer is a contract analysis service that delivers structured reviews in 24 hours for $199. An employment lawyer provides legal advice, represents you, and charges $400-$1,500 per hour with multi-week turnaround. For standard situations within the typical contract framework, Counteroffer captures most of the negotiable value at a small fraction of the cost. For situations involving discrimination, litigation, large equity packages, or M&A complexity, an employment lawyer is appropriate. Many people use both: Counteroffer for fast structured analysis, attorney for specific complex items.
Side-by-side
| Feature | Counteroffer | Employment lawyer |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $199 flat | $400-$1,500/hour, $3K-$30K typical engagement |
| Turnaround | 24 hours | 1-2 weeks typical |
| What you get | Structured PDF analysis | Legal advice, sometimes representation |
| Privileged | No | Yes (attorney-client privilege) |
| Can represent in dispute | No | Yes |
| Can file charges or sue | No | Yes |
| Provides legal advice | No | Yes |
| Output format | Consistent PDF report | Varies by attorney |
| Appropriate for | Standard situations | Complex / contested situations |
| Refund policy | If we miss material | Varies by attorney |
| State limitations | Works in all states (analysis only) | Licensed in specific states |
What each does best
Counteroffer does best:
- Standard severance negotiations
- Offer letter review and counter
- Non-compete enforceability analysis
- Fast turnaround when time matters
- Fixed-fee predictable cost
- Structured documentation for new employer counsel
- Compensation benchmarking
- State-specific contract analysis for common patterns
Employment lawyer does best:
- Active litigation or dispute
- Discrimination, retaliation, or whistleblower claims
- Cease-and-desist response
- Federal Section 16 issues
- 280G tax planning in M&A
- Multi-jurisdiction conflict-of-laws issues
- Cross-border employment
- Industry-specific specialized regulation
- Strategic representation in negotiations
The cost-benefit math
For a Director-level severance with $200K-$500K total package value:
- Counteroffer review ($199): Identifies typically $20K-$50K of negotiable value. ROI: 100-250x.
- Attorney engagement ($5K-$15K): May identify additional $10K-$30K beyond review. Marginal ROI: 1-6x.
Counteroffer captures most of the value at a fraction of the cost. The marginal attorney value is real but smaller, especially for standard situations.
For an Executive-level severance with $1M+ total package value:
- Counteroffer review ($199): Identifies major items, recommends counsel for complexity.
- Attorney engagement ($10K-$30K): Specialized expertise in equity, 280G, indemnification, M&A. Marginal value: $50K-$500K.
At executive levels, the math reverses. Attorney expertise justifies its cost.
When to use each
Use Counteroffer alone when:
- Total package $50K-$500K
- Standard severance, offer, or non-compete framework
- No active legal disputes
- You'll execute negotiation yourself
- Time-pressured situations
Use an employment lawyer alone when:
- Active or imminent litigation
- Cease-and-desist received
- Discrimination, retaliation, harassment claims
- Whistleblower complaints
- Complex M&A-related compensation
- Total package above $1M with significant complexity
- Multi-jurisdiction or international
Use both when:
- Total package $300K-$1M
- Standard items + 1-2 complex items
- You want fast structured analysis, then attorney consultation on specific items
- Senior roles where the math justifies both costs
The hybrid approach is often the most efficient: Counteroffer review provides structured starting point; brief attorney consultation addresses specific complexity.
What Counteroffer can't do
To be clear about limitations:
- Counteroffer is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice
- Counteroffer cannot represent you in disputes or litigation
- Counteroffer cannot file charges or pleadings
- Counteroffer does not have attorney-client privilege
- Counteroffer cannot opine on highly fact-specific questions outside the contract itself
For these, you need licensed counsel.
When we refer to an attorney
Counteroffer refers customers to vetted employment attorneys in specific situations:
- Active or imminent litigation
- Cease-and-desist letters received within 30 days
- Suspected discrimination, retaliation, or whistleblower issues
- Section 16 officer of public company
- Equity packages over $1M expected value
- M&A-related separations with 280G complexity
- Multi-jurisdiction or international situations
In these cases, we refund the review (or apply it as credit) and provide referrals at no additional cost.
What to do next
If your situation is within the standard framework and you want fast, structured analysis, see Counteroffer's services. If your situation involves the categories above where attorney engagement is needed, email hello@trycounteroffer.com and we'll refer you to vetted counsel in your state.
Related answers
- Cheap alternative to severance lawyer
- Should I see a lawyer or use a service for severance review?
- Is Counteroffer legit?
Get your contract reviewed
If you want a delivered review of your specific document with cited authority and counter language, see https://trycounteroffer.com/general.
Last updated: Sun May 31 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Counteroffer is a contract analysis service, not a law firm. This page is informational, not legal advice.