Adverse Termination Services
- Employee Termination Matters
Investigative Support for High-Risk Employee Separations
For 25 years, we have helped organizations navigate sensitive employee separations with preparation, discretion, focus on minimizing avoidable risk and addressing critical issues before, during, and after the separation.
Employee terminations can present significant legal, operational, and information security risks—particularly when the separation is contentious, unexpected, or involves access to sensitive systems and data. Maryman provides Adverse Termination Services to help organizations, HR professionals, legal counsel, managing partners, and owners prepare for and manage high-risk employee departures in a structured, defensible manner.
Maryman assists with preparing for an employee termination by ensuring appropriate planning and activities are completed to minimize organizational risk and protect the company’s interests. This includes developing a comprehensive termination strategy, safeguarding sensitive and confidential information, and identifying and addressing potential legal, compliance, and security considerations. We will also provide guidance on maintaining confidentiality throughout the process and managing any post-termination matters to support a smooth, consistent, and compliant transition.
Our team supports employers before, during, and after adverse terminations by helping reduce the risk of retaliation, data theft, sabotage, workplace disruption, and post-separation litigation. We combine investigative expertise, cybersecurity awareness, and practical risk management to help clients navigate difficult employment events with confidence.
Pre-Termination Situation Assessment and Planning
Not all terminations carry the same level of risk. Some employees may have privileged system access, client relationships, sensitive knowledge, or prior behavioral warning signs that warrant additional preparation. Maryman helps organizations assess these risks in advance and implement reasonable safeguards.
Examples of high-risk personnel include IT administrators, cybersecurity professionals, C-suite executives, system owners, and other employees with privileged access to sensitive information, critical business systems, or network infrastructure. These individuals often possess elevated permissions, access to confidential data, and the ability to influence staff, clients, and vendors or modify key systems.
Maryman’s Termination Support is designed, whether the termination is adversarial or not, to support two vital objectives:
- To prevent the employee from accessing systems and sensitive information after the termination
- To preserve electronic evidence that could support future legal proceedings
Our services include any or all of the following:
- Conduct situational analysis review
- Identify the termination team
- Conduct reconnaissance and identify preparation activities to support termination, which may include evidence acquisition
- Create a termination playbook
- Support activities during the termination event
- Post-termination support, which may include evidence acquisition
- Review employee system access and privileges
- Assess data exfiltration or unusual digital behavior indicators
- Coordinate planning among HR, legal, IT, and management
- Preserve relevant records and communications
- Plan separation-day security and access controls
- Recovery of company devices and credential control coordination
- Protection of intellectual property, customer lists, and confidential records
Consistent due diligence should be applied to every separation. Using the same baseline process helps ensure that appropriate legal, security, confidentiality, and operational considerations are addressed regardless of the circumstances surrounding the employee’s departure.
Post-Termination Investigations & Litigation Support
If misconduct, retaliation, or disputes arise after termination, Maryman can provide investigative support and defensible analysis to help counsel and decision-makers understand the facts. Our post-separation services may include:
- Evidence preservation and documentation
- Investigation of suspected data theft or unauthorized access
- Review of communications and digital activity timelines
- Expert consulting and testimony, when appropriate
We support plaintiff, defense, and neutral engagements depending on the nature of the matter.
Practical, Defensible Support for Difficult Employment Matters
Adverse terminations are often where employment law, operational risk, and information security intersect.
Whether your company is preparing to terminate a high-risk employee, responding to suspicious activity after a departure, or defending a later claim, our Adverse Termination or Post-Termination Services provide the investigative and strategic support needed to move forward.
Contact Maryman at 818-290-3775 to discuss how our Adverse Termination Services can help protect your organization during sensitive employee separations.