Merely talking of experience is fine. Being specific about where you got it can be a problem. Your guess about terms of severance is right. Some contracts have a term whereby the ex-employee is not to open up in competition with the ex-employer.Obviously there has to be some limit on the extent of the prohibition, it has to be reasonable. That's where the fun starts. A hairdresser Y employs a stylist X. Some customers want only that stylist. The stylist leaves. The stylist then advertises everywhere in the hairdresser's area that " I am X , the stylist formerly with the hairdresser Y for 15 years and am now going on my own. I'll be happy to welcome customers, old and new" Now you have possible litigation invoking the terms of the ex-employee's severance. This is likely the kind of problem that the solicitors staff are thinking of.