Employment Agreement, by and between Gulfport Energy Corporation and John Reinhart

Exhibit 10.1

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
between
GULFPORT ENERGY CORPORATION
and
John Reinhart

Effective January 24, 2023

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made effective January 24, 2023, between GULFPORT ENERGY CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and John Reinhart, an individual (the “Executive”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the services of the Executive and the Executive desires to make the Executive’s services available to the Company, pursuant to the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises herein contained, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive will not be deemed to have terminated for Good Reason unless (A) the Executive provides written notice to the Company of the existence of one of the conditions described above within ninety (90) days after the Executive has knowledge of the initial existence of the condition, (B) the Company fails to remedy the condition so identified within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice (if capable of correction), (C) the Executive provides a notice of termination to the Company within thirty (30) days of the expiration of the Company’s period to remedy the condition specifying an effective date for the Executive’s termination, and (D) the effective date of the Executive’s termination of employment is within ninety (90) days after the Executive provides written notice to the Company of the existence of the condition referred to in clause (A).

In the event the Executive breaches any of the Restrictive Covenants, the Executive’s right to receive the severance payments set forth in Section 6.1.3 or Section 6.1.4 hereof, as applicable, shall immediately cease and be forfeited, and any prior severance payments previously paid to the Executive shall be immediately repaid by the Executive to the Company.

Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause, the Company will not have any obligation to provide any further payments or benefits to the Executive after the Termination Date other than the Accrued Benefits.

Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Company and the Executive prior to the termination of the Executive’s employment, any termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute (a) an automatic resignation of Executive as an officer of the Company and each affiliate of the Company and (b) an automatic revocation of any power of attorney granted to the Executive for the benefit of the Company or any of its affiliates.

This Section 7.1 includes not only information belonging to the Company which existed before the date of this Agreement, but also information developed by the Executive for the Company or its employees during the Executive’s employment and thereafter.

The Company will reimburse the Executive for any reasonable business expenses the Executive may have incurred in connection with this obligation.

The decision of the arbitrator will be enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction. The Executive and the Company agree that either party shall be entitled to obtain injunctive or other equitable relief to enforce the provisions of this Agreement in a court of competent jurisdiction. The parties further agree that this arbitration provision is not only applicable to the Company but its affiliates, officers, directors, employees and related parties. The Executive agrees that the Executive shall have no right or authority for any dispute to be brought, heard or arbitrated as a class or collective action, or in a representative or a private attorney general capacity on behalf of a class of persons or the general public. No class, collective or representative actions are thus allowed to be arbitrated. The Executive agrees that the Executive must pursue any claims that the Executive may have solely on an individual basis through arbitration.

713 Market Drive

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73114

Attention: Board of Directors

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Executive is deemed on the Executive’s Termination Date to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Section 409A, then any payments and benefits under this Agreement that are subject to Section 409A and paid by reason of a termination of employment shall be made or provided on the later of (a) the payment date set forth in this Agreement or (b) the date that is the earliest of (i) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of the Executive’s termination of employment or (ii) the date of the Executive’s death (the “Delay Period”). Payments and benefits subject to the Delay Period shall be paid or provided to the Executive without interest for such delay. Termination of employment as used throughout this Agreement shall refer to a separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A. To the extent required to comply with Section 409A, references to a “resignation,” “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms throughout this Agreement shall be interpreted consistent with the meaning of “separation from service” as defined in Section 409A. To the extent that reimbursements or other in-kind benefits under this Agreement constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A, (A) all expenses or other reimbursements hereunder will be made on or before the last day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which such expenses were incurred by you, (B) any right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, and (C) no such reimbursement, expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided in any taxable year will in any way affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other taxable year.

[Signature Page Follows]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement effective the date first above written.

Exhibit A

Form of Waiver and Release

(see attached)

FORM OF WAIVER AND RELEASE

[The language in this Waiver and Release may change based on legal developments and evolving best practices; this form is provided as an example of what will be included in the final Waiver and Release document.]

In consideration of, and as a condition precedent to, receiving the termination compensation described in that certain Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) effective as of January 24, 2023, by and between Gulfport Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and John Reinhart, an individual residing in the State of [________] (“Employee”), which was offered to Employee in exchange for a general waiver and release of claims (this “Waiver and Release”). Employee having acknowledged the above-stated consideration as full compensation for and on account of any and all injuries and damages which Employee has sustained or claimed, or may be entitled to claim, Employee, for Employee, and Employee’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, does hereby release, forever discharge and promise not to sue the Company, its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, successors and assigns, and their past and present officers, directors, partners, employees, members, managers, shareholders, agents, attorneys, accountants, insurers, heirs, administrators, executors, as well as all employee benefit plans maintained by any of the foregoing entities or individuals, and all fiduciaries and administrators of such plans, in their personal and representative capacities (collectively the “Released Parties”) from any and all claims, liabilities, costs, expenses, judgments, attorney fees, actions, known and unknown, of every kind and nature whatsoever in law or equity, which Employee had, now has, or may have against the Released Parties, including, but not limited to, any claims relating in any way to Employee’s employment with the Company or termination thereof prior to and including the date of execution of this Waiver and Release, and including, but not limited to, all claims for contract damages, tort damages, special, general, direct, punitive and consequential damages, compensatory damages, loss of profits, attorney fees and any and all other damages of any kind or nature; all contracts, oral or written, between Employee and any of the Released Parties; any business enterprise or proposed enterprise contemplated by any of the Released Parties, as well as anything done or not done prior to and including the date of execution of this Waiver and Release.

Employee understands and agrees that this Waiver and Release and covenant not to sue shall apply to any and all claims or liabilities arising out of or relating to Employee’s employment with the Company and the termination of such employment, including, but not limited to: claims of discrimination based on age, race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, marital status, parental status, veteran status, union activities, disability or any other grounds under applicable federal, state or local law prior to and including the date of execution of this Waiver and Release, including, but not limited to, claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA), all as amended, as well as any claims prior to and including the date of execution of this Waiver and Release, regarding wages; benefits; vacation; sick leave; business expense reimbursements; wrongful termination; breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing; intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress; retaliation; outrage; defamation; invasion of privacy; breach of contract; fraud or negligent misrepresentation; harassment; breach of duty; negligence; discrimination; claims under any employment, contract or tort laws; claims arising under any other federal law, state law, municipal law, local law, or common law; any claims arising out of any employment contract, policy or procedure; and any other claims related to or arising out of Employee’s employment or the separation of Employee’s employment with the Company prior to and including the date of execution of this Waiver and Release.

In addition, Employee agrees not to cause or encourage any legal proceeding to be maintained or instituted against any of the Released Parties, save and except proceedings to enforce the terms of the Agreement or claims of Employee not released by and in this Waiver and Release.

This Waiver and Release does not apply to (i) claims for indemnification pursuant to the Company’s governing documents or any indemnification agreement, (ii) vested benefits under any retirement plan of the Company, (iii) any claims for unemployment compensation or (iv) any other claims or rights which, by law, cannot be waived, including the right to file an administrative charge or participate in an administrative investigation or proceeding; provided, however that Employee disclaims and waives any right to share or participate in any monetary award from the Company resulting from the prosecution of such charge or investigation or proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision in this Waiver and Release or the Agreement to the contrary, the Company and Employee further agree that nothing in this Waiver and Release or the Agreement (i) limits Employee’s ability to file a charge or complaint with the EEOC, the NLRB, OSHA, the SEC or any other federal, state or local governmental agency or commission (each a “Government Agency” and collectively “Government Agencies”); (ii) limits Employee’s ability to communicate with any Government Agencies or otherwise participate in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by any Government Agency, including providing documents or other information and reporting possible violations of law or regulation or other disclosures protected under the whistleblower provisions of applicable law or regulation, without notice to the Company; or (iii) limits Employee’s right to receive an award for information provided to any Government Agencies.

Employee expressly acknowledges that Employee is voluntarily, irrevocably and unconditionally releasing and forever discharging the Company and the other Released Parties from all rights or claims Employee has or may have against the Released Parties including, but not limited to, without limitation, all charges, claims of money, demands, rights, and causes of action arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (“ADEA”), up to and including the date Employee signs this Waiver and Release including, but not limited to, all claims of age discrimination in employment and all claims of retaliation in violation of ADEA. Employee further acknowledges that the consideration given for this waiver of claims under the ADEA is in addition to anything of value to which Employee was already entitled in the absence of this waiver. Employee further acknowledges: (a) that Employee has been informed by this writing that Employee should consult with an attorney prior to executing this Waiver and Release; (b) that Employee has carefully read and fully understands all of the provisions of this Waiver and Release; (c) Employee is, through this Waiver and Release, releasing the Company and the other Released Parties from any and all claims Employee may have against any of them; (d) Employee understands and agrees that this Waiver and Release does not apply to any claims that may arise under the ADEA after the date Employee executes this Waiver and Release; (e) Employee has at least twenty-one (21) days within which to consider this Waiver and Release; and (f) Employee has seven (7) days following Employee’s execution of this Waiver and Release to revoke the Waiver and Release; and (g) this Waiver and Release shall not be effective until the revocation period has expired and Employee has signed and has not revoked the Waiver and Release.

Employee acknowledges and agrees that: (a) Employee has had reasonable and sufficient time to read and review this Waiver and Release and that Employee has, in fact, read and reviewed this Waiver and Release; (b) Employee has the right to consult with legal counsel regarding this Waiver and Release and is encouraged to consult with legal counsel with regard to this Waiver and Release; (c) Employee has had (or has had the opportunity to take) twenty- one (21) calendar days to discuss the Waiver and Release with a lawyer of Employee’s choice before signing it and, if Employee signs before the end of that period, Employee does so of Employee’s own free will and with the full knowledge that Employee could have taken the full period; (d) Employee is entering into this Waiver and Release freely and voluntarily and not as a result of any coercion, duress or undue influence; (e) Employee is not relying upon any oral representations made to Employee regarding the subject matter of this Waiver and Release; (f) by this Waiver and Release Employee is receiving consideration in addition to that which Employee was already entitled; and (g) Employee has received all information Employee requires from the Company in order to make a knowing and voluntary release and waiver of all claims against the Company and the other Released Parties.

Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee has seven (7) days after the date Employee signs this Waiver and Release in which to rescind or revoke this Waiver and Release by providing notice in writing to the Company. Employee further understands that the Waiver and Release will have no force and effect until the end of that seventh (7th) day. If Employee revokes the Waiver and Release, the Company will not be obligated to pay or provide Employee with the benefits described in this Waiver and Release, and this Waiver and Release shall be deemed null and void.

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED this _____ day of, 20 ___.

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