Employment and Executive Compensation Attorney

A strategic negotiator and trusted advisor to industry-leading employers and high-level executives, Irene Bassock has more than 30 years of experience navigating complex employment matters, sensitive exits, executive transitions and corporate negotiations. She is adept at helping clients leverage legal, business, reputational and relational factors to secure the best possible outcomes, even when traditional legal claims may be limited.

As a former in-house counsel to a Fortune 200 financial services company, Irene has a firsthand understanding of how corporations operate and how executives make decisions. This experience enables her to anticipate challenges, uncover opportunities and craft creative solutions that protect her clients’ interests, minimize disruptions, and advance business goals.

“Irene is an exceptional employment lawyer. She has excellent instincts and is very practical in the advice that she provides to clients. She is always driven by doing what is right for her clients while maintaining an unwavering ethical compass.” — Martindale-Avvo client review.

Insider perspective on high-stakes employment matters

Irene’s practice spans a broad range of industries, including financial services, sports, technology, and media and entertainment. Her dual perspective of the challenges affecting both executives and corporate clients gives her an edge in negotiations, compliance and risk management.

She advises on a full spectrum of employment and executive compensation matters, including:

●     Executive separations and transitions: guiding clients through sensitive exits, negotiating severance agreements and managing reputational, legal and business risks.

●     Employment investigations: managing internal inquiries into misconduct, harassment or compliance concerns while protecting client interests.

●     Executive contracts and compensation: structuring employment agreements, incentive packages and benefits arrangements that align with business goals.

●     Corporate HR advisory: counseling management and HR teams on complex employee relations, policy design, reductions in force and compliance issues.

Irene is the 2026 chair of the board for United Way of Central and Northeast Connecticut and an active member of its Women of Tocqueville and Women United groups. Irene sits on the executive compensation committee of Bristol Hospital in Bristol, Connecticut. She is also an executive board member of the Connecticut Employment Lawyers Association and a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association.

PUBLICATIONS

Before the Layoff: Key Legal and Strategic Considerations for Employers, Corporate Counsel, June 2025

NY, Del. May Be Trending Against Noncompete Enforceability, Law360, January 2024