'Cue mass resignations and missed deadlines': Owner antagonizes own lawyer over sale of company, lives to regret it

It's amazing how some people get away with being completely incompetent, inexplicably failing upwards, and succeeding due to sheer circumstance until they find themselves in positions of authority that they never should have been allowed near. They'll succeed for as long as their luck holds, but eventually, the entire house of cards will come crashing down… This original poster claims that their revenge really isn't that substantial, but considering the fact that they pushed the first few dominos over, causing a catastrophic cascade, this story is well deserving of "pro revenge."

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Author image for Brad Dickson Brad Dickson
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  • This lawyer was the in-house lawyer for a multinational organization being run by the original owners and a whole lot of yes-men who had been with the company since the beginning but weren't doing a lot of work or qualified for the positions they were in. The lawyers found themselves overworked and handling tasks they shouldn't be handling—things that an entire firm of lawyers would normally handle… Part of this included the definitive agreement for the sale of the company. Seeing as they were working under extremely poor circumstances, they began to look elsewhere, which prompted bullying from their superiors. They handed in their 1-month notice, which would set them free of the bonds, chaining them to this torture exactly when the proposed sale of the company was set to take place, which set the stage for them to pull the plug on the entire thing.

  • 01
    Sleeve - "Cue mass resignations and missed deadlines."
    via Ruthson Zimmerman
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  • 02
    Font - Posted by u/UOAOldie Don't antagonize your lawyer while you're selling your company Title is a bit dramatic. The revenge is tame compared to what I have read as a lurker so far. But it is the most satisfactory thing I have done so far given that this happened outside US, where labour laws are, at best, guidelines. I have left out several details. My apologies for formatting/wording if its unfamiliar to where you are from. TL; DR - Management threatens their lawyer. The lawyer proves why t
    via u/UOAOldie
  • 03
    Font - I was an in-house lawyer in a multinational company that sold software. I specifically joined this relatively lesser known company to learn more about compliance (the company was listed on the stock exchange - meaning more compliance work). I highlighted this specifically as one of the reasons for my seeking out a change. I discovered it was filled with "senior citizens" (not an age thing) when I joined. Basically a company full of old timers who are
    via u/UOAOldie
  • 04
    Font - there purely because they're close to the company's owners. As part of the on-boarding experience, I had to sit through sermons of how they "changed the industry" and how "they know Q". This meant I had three different bosses - one senior guy who was the "fixer" (ill called him Senior Guy 1 for convenience) No one really knew what he did, but he got a cabin to himself. Another was an ex-senior management guy who got a gig from the owner to negotiate tech contracts (Senior Guy 2). I highli
    via u/UOAOldie
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  • 05
    Font - One month after joining, I was told that the company was going private through a sale to another entity. I was shocked. But I had loans to pay so I continued. For some reason, I was "senior" enough for them to handle this independently. This meant I worked through nights to complete tasks that a law firm would ordinarily do. I also worked on the definitive agreement that was in use for the company to be sold. This will become important later.
    via u/UOAOldie
  • 06
    Font - By the third month, I had decided the role wasn't what was advertised and I was essentially cheap labour for M&A. Buyers were from another city and planned to have their office there. I was not keen on moving. I read between the lines and started lining up interviews. Things went south quickly. Old timers were unhappy that I was looking for a job because that would mean they're answerable to owners
    via u/UOAOldie
  • 07
    Font - or worse, have to do the work themselves. Cue the harassment which really solidified my resolve to leave. All my complaints about Senior Guy 1 & 2 to Senior Guy 3 were met with typical management talk. He sympathized and bad- mouthed them for burdening the company that he tolerates only because they are closer to the owner. Senior Guy 2 started countering all my remarks/comments on drafting on email. Even minor agreement points required "discussion".
    via u/UOAOldie
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  • 08
    Font - If it was his mistake, then we had a call. However, if Senior Guy 2 raised the point, it suddenly made "commercial sense". This wasn't my first rodeo. I really didn't care about proving a point because I wanted out as soon as possible. Any push-back, fights are going to be on deaf ears because from where I am, labour laws are, at best, recommendations unless you're unionized. The only option is to leave.
    via u/UOAOldie
  • 09
    Font - I was pid and tired of being pushed over but I wondered if it was just me angry at the whole situation and finding faults. I had an opportunity to test my theory. So in one of the contracts that "we" were drafting, I made some comments and sent them to Senior Guy 2. As expected, he countered with verbal suggestions on the phone, which didn't make sense obviously. However, because he is "senior", I had to do the song and dance to explain the
    via u/UOAOldie
  • 10
    Font - points. So I arranged for the call, explained to him and documented this on email attributing each verbal recommendation, time of the call, and the decisions suggested by him. Then I sent this back to him for "approval". However, this time, I CC'ed my boss Senior Guy 3 and asked for his approval on recommendations. Surprisingly, this practice was entirely new to them. Both of them were pod at me. Senior Guy 2 and 3 were not happy. Senior Guy 2 was
    via u/UOAOldie
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  • 11
    Font - being questioned for the first time on email and Senior Guy 3 couldn't ignore my email as the "head" of my department. Unsurprisingly, I got a single-line non-answer from Senior Guy 3 basically asking me to "discuss this with Senior Guy 2", followed by a verbally heated instruction to just do what Senior Guy 2 wants and not bother him. Now I was sure that this wasn't going to work for me in the short term or the long term. So I resigned and gave my notice period of one
    via u/UOAOldie
  • 12
    Font - month (since I was on probation). Senior Guy 3 was piod because he thought the notice period was for three months and the sale of company was expected to close in 1-2 months. Cue the one-month harassment that typically follows in any toxic work environment after you resign. On the last working day, I walked up to Senior Guy 3's cabin and did the obligatory thank-you communication. He basically told me that I am picking a huge fight and he will see that I never
    via u/UOAOldie
  • 13
    Font - get employed in the industry again. He also told me that he is NOT going to pay me my full and final settlement of dues and a relieving letter(a HUGE deal in India to get to your next job. employers hold off on these as blackmail for troublesome employees). His tone implied that there is very little I could do because they were all senior guys and they "been there done that". I wasn't the first disgruntled employee for him. I said my goodbyes. I got IT to confirm that i have returned the
    via u/UOAOldie
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  • 14
    Font - However, I was pi as well at the whole ordeal and had made up my mind not to show this on my CV. Revenge Starts here I call it my one-two shot. Shot One - Once I left, I spoke with my friend and decided to serve a legal notice, detailing the ordeal and treatment meted out to me. Ordinarily, the legal notice barely makes a difference as the management is usually thick
    via u/UOAOldie
  • 15
    Font - skinned about it. However, the legal notice was also sent to the owners (not just the company). This wasn't really required but I did it anyways. Turns out many directors were pid at Senior Guy 1, 2 and 3 but were quiet just waiting to sell this company out. My act of involving the owners meant the entire board (including outside directors, mandatory for listed entities). This turned into an festival of explanations by all three in front of the owners. From what I hear, they all had to pe
    via u/UOAOldie
  • 16
    Font - I waited for 1 month to see if the notice had any effect aside from them being chided like kids. Expectedly, I got no response but I knew from grapevine that they now had to spend on a law firm to reply to me because "shareholders" were aware of this information. I had made my point but now I wanted more. I really didn't want to drag it because I was also looking for jobs and had loans to pay.
    via u/UOAOldie
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  • 17
    Font - However, their template management response (this time with HR copied) basically implied that since I had left "without notice" they were evaluating all options, including considering me AWOL. Senior Guy 2 basically threatened me that he will not pay me my dues or my relieving letter (evidencing service) and implied that there is very little I can do about it. Petty that I am, I made plans to get both.
    via u/UOAOldie
  • 18
    Font - Shot two - Since I had access to the definitive agreement, and remembered huge details about it (having worked with law firms through the agreement in detail) 1. I was aware of who stays / goes. I made sure to speak to those who were going to let go. Cue mass resignations and missed deadlines. 2. I knew the specific approvals that would trigger because of the transaction. So I spoke to the authority who would approve this transaction as a disgruntled employee. The authority made their own
    via u/UOAOldie
  • 19
    Font - inquiries. the owners got spooked. It was definitely not serious enough to scare them into thinking that the deal wont get approved. But the mere fact that a government authority was calling them meant they now had to deal with the authority which would have never happened, if it wasn't for me. Result: 1. Buyer used this as a low value bargaining chip citing bad employee experience and resignation of several key members on key projects.
    via u/UOAOldie
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  • 20
    Font - 2. I got my dues and relieving letter (evidencing service) within 48 hours of shot two. 3. Company got gossip for years on how the management was dumb enough to mess with a lawyer, including a sermon from owners on how to not piooff employees when they are trying to sell the company. 4. Senior Guy 1 & 2 were left red-faced but survived because of old ties. However, their contracts were not renewed. 5. Senior Guy 3 who threatened me, became a "consultant" after the company was sold.
    via u/UOAOldie
  • 21
    Font - manwoodlover · 8 hr. ago Nice work, pro revenge with some petty thrown in on the side. 66 Reply Share
    via u/UOAOldie
  • 22
    Font - Emergency-Aardvark-6 · 7 hr. ago Wasn't sure this would be pro initially but loved it & it is. I'd also just like to say English is my first language, as you're working in India, if it's not yours, I'm ashamed of myself! The way you've written is fantastic, love your descriptions & turns of phrase. I appreciate you're a lawyer so wouldn't have time, but you should consider writing as a side gig! 36 Reply Share ●●●
    via u/UOAOldie
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  • 23
    Font - CustomSawdust 8 hr. ago So basically old guard BS believing they are invincible. I cannot wait to retire to alleviate myself from such old idea nonsense. 7 ↓ Reply Share
    via u/UOAOldie
  • 24
    Font - ColonelJohn_Matrix 8 hr. ago Labour laws outside the US are at best 'guidelines'? Hmmmm. I live in the UK and we don't have 'at will' employment for a start. 56 Reply Share Moontoya 8 hr. ago Further details India as point of origin 64 Reply Share
    via u/UOAOldie
  • 25
    Font - Lackeytsar 2 hr. ago ● Well this definitely encourages me to work in-house now (also Indian and a future lawyer). What's your overall journey op? How did you get into in- house? Literally the same reason I want to intern inhouse too was because of the compliance ex and M&A (pursuing CS also adds up tbf) 42 2 Reply Share
    via u/UOAOldie
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  • 26
    Font - See-A-Moose · 7 hr. ago So a lawyer shared confidential information with folks who didn't have the privilege to view it? Ethical standards must be way different for lawyers in India. -2 Reply Share UOAOldie OP. 7 hr. ago I must clarify that the "communication" part of shot two, with employees was around the time I resigned but was still in the company.
    via u/UOAOldie
  • 27
    Font - That is why, I was a concerned employee who wanted "clarity" and therefore, circulated the email to department heads, knowing fully well that it would be discussed to death. None of the information went to third parties. All employees are bound by confidentiality. I disclosed it on a "need to know" basis. 5 Reply Share
    via u/UOAOldie
  • 28
    Font - mikkolukas 1 hr. ago outside US, where labour laws are, at best, guidelines What? You surely have never heard about Europe 1 Reply Share ●●●
    via u/UOAOldie
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  • 29
    Font - Collegiette2019 - 34 min. ago This. Is. EXCELLENT. 1↓ Reply Share
    via u/UOAOldie

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