Bill Egan
Attorney At Law
began@avisenlegal.com
612-455-3974
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Areas of Practice
“I take great satisfaction in my role as an advisor, counselor and strategist in the workplace. Whether serving as an advisor to individual executives or businesses, I enjoy helping my clients resolve conflicts, negotiate agreements and navigate the increasingly complex regulatory environment in the modern workplace.”
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota State Courts
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Districts of Minnesota and Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin
I have more than 30 years of experience representing executives, business owners, private enterprises and small-to-midsize public companies as an advisor, counselor and advocate on matters relating to the employment relationship. Informed by years of experience with both routine and unusual employment relationships and workplace situations, I bring a pragmatic, realistic and results-oriented perspective to issues arising in the workplace.
My primary practice involves the executive employment relationship. I represent executives, business owners and corporate boards on employment law issues. I have a wealth of experience drafting and enforcing executive employment agreements, equity agreements, codes of business conduct, non-compete/non-solicitation agreements, indemnification agreements, retention and change-in-control agreements, long-term incentive plans, bonus and commission plans, and transition and severance agreements.
I also advise employers on a wide range of human resource matters. I enjoy serving as a sounding board and problem-solver for business owners and human resources representatives with difficult employee discipline issues, discharge decisions, non-compete disputes, whistleblower claims, employee theft investigations, substance abuse, sexual harassment and other workplace misconduct. I also help clients navigate the increasingly complex federal and state regulatory environment governing the workplace, ensuring they have implemented best practices with contracts, documentation, policies, procedures and practices.
Outsourced Employment Law Counsel
I also offer my business clients the option of retaining me to assist with their day-to-day employment law needs on a monthly retainer. This service, Outsourced Employment Law Counsel, is available to small and mid-size companies and other organizations at a flat monthly rate depending on the needs of the business. For a flat monthly fee, clients have easy and direct access to an experienced employment attorney to assist them with form agreements and policies and to be on call to assist on employment-related legal issues that arise from time to time and require immediate attention. Read More.
I also have experience conducting and overseeing internal investigations into allegations of discrimination, sexual harassment, misconduct, and employee fraud such as embezzlement, kickbacks, fake invoicing, and expense account abuse.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time at my family cabin, cycling and performing home-improvement projects on which I am totally unqualified.
Type of Client: Employer – Assisted Living Facility
Client’s Issue: Sexual Harassment Defense
My Approach: Proactive Litigation and Discovery
Result: Dismissal on Summary Judgment
Type of Client: Executive – Medical Device Industry
Client’s Issue: Negotiate Terms of Employment Agreement
My Approach: Ensure Market Compensation and Severance Provisions
Result: Successful Hire and Onboarding; Promotion
Type of Client: Executive Sales Representative
Client’s Issue: Noncompete Issues
My Approach: Advise on Exit Strategy to Minimize Exposure
Result: Successful Transfer to Competitor on Negotiated Terms
Type of Client: C-Suite Executive – Public Company
Client’s Issue: Change in Control Severance Dispute
My Approach: Attempt to Negotiate then Litigate
Result: Settled on Usually Agreeable Terms
Type of Client: Highly Compensated C-Suite Executive
Client’s Issue: Renegotiate Employment Agreement
My Approach: Advise the executive on Negotiation of Compensation; Revise Final Agreement
Result: Agreement Reached on Satisfactory Terms
Type of Client: Financial Advisor
Client’s Issue: Terminate Employment Agreement and Open New Practice
My Approach: Extensive Negotiation with Employer’s Counsel
Result: Mutually Agreeable Transition Agreement
Type of Client: Professional in Private Practice
Client’s Issue: Separation: Non–Compete
My Approach: Defend Client Position and Challenge Enforceability of Restrictive Covenants
Result: Litigation Threats Ceased Without Materializing
Type of Client: Employer Property Manager
Client’s Issue: Defense of Discrimination Claims
My Approach: Proactive Counseling and Advice
Result: Charges Dismissed by Agency & No Litigation
- J.D., William Mitchell College of Law
- University of Notre Dame
- St. Thomas Academy
- Mentor, St. John Vianney, University of St. Thomas
- Volunteer Attorney, Cancer Legal Care
- Member, Our Lady of Grace Parish Pastoral Council
- Management Resource Association Annual Employment Law Update, Minnesota State Legislative Update, 2/17/2022
- Lessons Learned: Keeping the Competition Out of Your Kitchen, 11/01/2017
- Twin Cities Startup Week: Darwin Lessons, 10/13/2017
- Missteps on the Path to Virtue: The Corrosive Effect of the Little Things, Virtuous Business Leader Series, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota (February 2015) University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota (February 2015)
- Workplace Investigations, Private Client Annual Meeting Event, Bloomington, Minnesota (June 2012)
- Employee Theft, Embezzlement and Fraud – Investigations, Terminations, and Asset Recovery, Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota (May 2012)
- Protecting Trade Secrets and Other Proprietary Information with Restrictive Covenants, Private Client Seminar (September 2011)
- Separation Agreements, Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota (May 2011)
- Employment Agreements, Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota (May 2009)
- Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace, Wells Fargo Insurance Services – Risk Management Series (May 2008)
- Common Ethical Issues in Employment Litigation, Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota (May 2008)
- The Essentials of Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation, Anti-Raiding & Confidentiality Agreements, Oppenheimer, Wolff & Donnelly, Breakfast Briefing (October 2007)
- Avoiding Common Employer Mistakes, Oppenheimer, Wolff & Donnelly, Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Seminar for Employers (June 2006)
- Hiring and Screening in Today’s Environment, Minnesota Institute for Legal Education, Bloomington, Minnesota (January 2002)
- Discipline and Termination for Poor Attitude or Personality Conflict: Making Essential Business Decisions Without Fear of Lawsuits, Counsel on Education in Management, Minneapolis, Minnesota (November 1998)
- Liability Prevention Techniques for Conducting Terminations, RIFs and Retirements in Response to Emerging Laws, Counsel on Education in Management, Minneapolis, Minnesota (September 1998).
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Author, Creating Mistake-proof Human Resource Systems, Upsize Magazine (May/June 2021)
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Author, A Practical Approach to Employment Agreements, Negotiating and Drafting Employment Agreements, Inside the Minds series, Aspatore Books (2008)
- William Mitchell College of Law, Alumni Association Award of Merit
- 100 Who Made A Difference, William Mitchell College of Law
Videos by Bill
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- What Are the Primary Things You Focus On When Negotiating Executive Employment Agreements?
- What Are the Biggest Pitfalls Employers Face Related to Employment Law?
- What Type of Business Is a Good Candidate for Outsourced Employment Law Counsel?
- What Are Some Current Trends in Employment Law That Employers Need to Be Aware Of?
- Case Study: Employment Law