13.Construction. In construing this Agreement, if any portion of this Agreement shall be found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be given effect to the maximum extent permitted without considering the void, invalid or unenforceable provision. In construing this Agreement, the singular shall include the plural, the masculine shall include the feminine and neuter genders, as appropriate, and no meaning or effect shall be given to the captions of the paragraphs in this Agreement, which are inserted for convenience of reference only.
14.Choice of Law; Survival. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Texas without resort to choice of law principles. The provisions of Paragraphs 7, 8, 9, and 10 shall survive the termination of this Agreement for any reason whatsoever.
15.Protected Communications. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, or will, be used by any way to, limit Employee’s rights to communicate with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or any other governmental agency, as provided for, protected under or warranted by applicable law, including, but not limited to, Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and SEC Rule21F-7 (the “Protected Communications”). Nothing in this Agreement requires Employee to notify, or obtain permission from, CSL before engaging in any Protected Communications.
16.Integration; Amendments. This is an integrated Agreement. This Agreement constitutes and is intended as a final expression and a complete and exclusive statement of the understanding and agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. All negotiations, discussions and writings between the parties hereto relating to the subject matter of this Agreement are merged into this Agreement, and there are no rights conferred, nor promises, agreements, conditions, undertakings, warranties or representations, oral or written, expressed or implied, between the undersigned parties as to such matters other than as specifically set forth herein. No amendment or modification of or addendum to, this Agreement shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by the party against whom it is sought to be enforced.
17.Binding Effect. This Agreement is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns; provided, however, that Employee shall not be entitled to assign his interest in this Agreement (except for an assignment by operation of law to his estate), or any portion hereof, or any rights hereunder, to any party. Any attempted assignment by Employee in violation of this Paragraph 17 shall be null, void,abinitio and of no effect of any kind or nature whatsoever.
18.Taxes.
(a) All payments to be made to and on behalf of the Employee under this Agreement will be subject to required withholding of federal, employment and excise taxes, and to related reporting requirements.
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