January 14, 2025
 
 
Question:
Jennifer, 

I'm looking for another opinion on my employment/equity opportunity.  My current attorney is raising compliance and some other issues that I am not sure are legitimate or are my priority.   I think I'm being gaslighted because my attorney admitted he has a negative relationship with the employer. Does this happen?  Do I have a legitimate concern? 

Thanks, 
Dr. P

Answer:
For those unfamiliar with the term "gaslighting" - According to Google AI: Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse that involves a person manipulating another person's reality to make them question their own thoughts, feelings, and perceptions.
 
100% this happens. Your attorney has not been replaced with a robot yet, and is a human impacted by prior experience. ego and self-interest (unfortunately, sometimes).  If your attorney has expressed directly to you that he/she has negative thoughts towards your potential employer and beyond that your instinct is telling you that your attorney may be tanking your opportunity, ABSOLUTELY you should seek a second opinion.   We are all flawed and influenced by our past experiences.   You should follow your gut and get another assessment.   Now, of course, the issues raised by your current counsel may be legitimate, and perhaps there are issues worth discussion with the current opportunity.  Any time you feel an advisor is affected or is not being effective on your behalf, as the client, it is on you to question and seek outside guidance.  

Specific to compliance concerns, counsel should identify the specific laws, rules or regulations restricting the proposed construct.  If you are not being provided express background with statutory support, you have reason to be suspect.  

A mechanism I like to deploy when advising to avoid a "gaslighting" feeling - is to remind you that while you pay me to give you advice, you, as your personal CEO, are free to ignore it.