The term “wrongful termination” can mean many different things in different contexts.  While Tennessee is an at-will employment state and although there is no legal claim by itself for “wrongful termination,” there are laws that protect people from being terminated for reasons that have been made illegal.  For example, a person cannot be fired due to her pregnancy.  There are many other illegal and discriminatory reasons that may make a termination unlawful, and our attorneys have the expertise to sift through what is legal and what is not.  

Our attorneys also have the experience to advise and consult with clients regarding proposed separation agreements.  It is very important to get qualified legal advice before one is signed.  Although severance pay is not required by law, some companies offer it under limited circumstances or if there is a contract requiring it.  An offer of severance, however, often comes with strings attached and our attorneys have the wisdom to counsel clients on pros and cons, what their release of claims may be worth, and whether clients should request changes to proposed separation agreements.  Finally, under certain circumstances if it appears that you may have a claim for unlawful termination, an employer may be willing to negotiate a severance package in order to resolve issues early and without a lawsuit.  Mikel & Hamill can help analyze whether that may be a possibility and navigate the negotiation for you.