EX-10.1


 Exhibit 10.1 
 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
 THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of
April 16, 2013, is entered into by and between Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (the “Company”), and Bruce Koch (“Employee”), an individual residing at 35 Meadow Brook Place The
Woodlands, Texas 77382. 
 WHEREAS, the Employee will be providing services to the Company, the Company will deliver
confidential data of the Company to the Employee; 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Company and Employee hereby agree as follows: 

1. Employment. The Company agrees to employ Employee, and Employee agrees to be employed by the Company, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions herein provided. 
 2. Term. The employment of Employee will be for a period (referred to
herein as the “Employment Term”) commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending the earliest of (i) three (3) year from the date of this Agreement, or (ii) the date of termination of Employee’s employment pursuant
to Section 5 hereof. (“Termination Date”). 
 3. Position and Duties. 

(a) Position. During the Employment Term, Employee will serve as Chief Financial Officer of the Company and in such other
capacities as the Board of Managers of the Company (the “Board”) may designate from time to time, expressly provided that the Board may not materially diminish or reduce the Employee’s duties and privileges hereunder. In such
capacities, Employee will have such duties, functions, responsibilities and authority customarily associated with the positions Employee holds, and subject of the description of the Employee’s duties and metrics, and further subject to any
applicable restrictions imposed by the Operating Agreement of the Company and to the directives of the Board. 
 (b)
Duties. During the Employment Term, Employee will devote substantially all of his time, skill and attention to the business and affairs of the Company, and in furtherance of the business and affairs of the Company, except for usual, ordinary
and customary periods of vacation and absence due to illness or other disability; provided, however, that Employee may devote reasonable periods of time in connection with the following activities, if such activities do not substantially interfere
with the performance of Employee’s duties and services hereunder, do not violate any other provisions of this Agreement and do not consume more than 10% of Employee’s working hours: 

(i) serving as a director, officer or member of a committee of any Organization, if serving in such capacity does not
involve any conflict with the 






 
business of the Company and such organization is not in competition in any manner whatsoever with the business of the Company; 

(ii) Fulfilling speaking engagements; and 

(iii) Engaging in charitable and community activities. 

4. Compensation and Related Matters. 
 (a) Base Salary. Employee will be paid a base salary at the rate of $ 287,500.00 per annum, to be paid on a semi-monthly basis, less statutory payroll deductions, payable in accordance with
the payroll practices adopted by the Company. After the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement, the base salary may be reviewed periodically and increases in such base salary may be granted at the sole discretion of the Board. 

Upon acceptance of this Agreement, you will be eligible for an award of an Employee Interest in Black Elk Employee Incentive, LLC (“BEEI), subject
to the terms and conditions of the Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations, LLC Employee Incentive Plan, as amended. The target amount of your Employee Interest will be 4.0%. 
 You will also be eligible to participate in the Company incentive compensation program with a target of 50% of your annual salary. Incentive compensations are based on the company’s performance and
profitability, and therefore, payment is not guaranteed. 
 (b) Benefits. Employee will, during the Employment Term be
eligible to participate in any life insurance, medical, disability and any other employee benefit plans, or any incentive pay, deferred compensation, profit-sharing or retirement plans of the Company that may be in effect, from time to time, to the
extent such plans are generally available to other executive officers of the Company. Any earned but unpaid bonuses or other discretionary compensation payment for any period shall be paid within the earlier of 30 days following the termination of
employment or two and a half months following the end of the taxable year in which the right to such payment is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. 
 (c) Vacations. Employee, each calendar year of the Employment Term, will be entitled to four (4) weeks’ vacation, holidays and other paid or unpaid leaves of absence consistent with the
Company’s normal policies. 
 (d) Expenses. Employee will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses for travel and
entertainment as described in the Company’s policies and only as approved by the Company in advance of expenditure, incurred in the performance of his duties and services hereunder and in furtherance of the business of the Company. Expenses
will only be reimbursed upon presentation by Employee of an itemized account, accompanied by appropriate receipts sufficient to enable the Company to meet Internal Revenue Service documentation standards for deductibility of such expense. Any
expenses incurred by the 






 
Employee shall be reimbursed within thirty days of the end of the taxable year in which the Employee incurs the expense, provided that the expense is incurred by the Employee while employed with
the Company. 
 (e) Education, Licenses and Training. Subject to Subsection (d) above: 

(i) the Company will reimburse in full all reasonable costs associated with any job-related education or any continuing
professional education required for Employee to maintain any licenses or certifications; and 
 (ii) The Company
will pay all reasonable fees for licenses, certifications or memberships in professional organizations. 
 5. Termination of
Employment. 
 (a) Employee’s employment hereunder: 

(i) will automatically terminate upon the death, Disability, voluntary resignation, or retirement of Employee; and for
purposes hereof, “Disability,” means a physical or mental disability or other incapacity which renders the Employee unable, with reasonable accommodation, to perform his/her duties for 180 consecutive days or for an aggregate of more than
six (6) months in any twelve (12) month period; 
 (ii) may be terminated at any time: 

(A) By the Employee after a material breach by the Company of any material provision of this Agreement which, if
correctable by the Company, remains uncorrected for thirty (30) days following written notice of such breach to the Company from the Employee; or 
 (B) By the Employee upon a Change of Control (as defined below); 

(C) By the Company, upon ten (10) days’ notice without cause. 

(iii) may be terminated by the Company upon ten (10) days’ written notice, for “cause”, which will
mean by reason of any of the following: 
 (A) Employee’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, any
felony or to any crime or offense causing substantial harm to the Company (whether or not for personal gain) or involving acts of theft, fraud or embezzlement; 






 (B) willful and intentional misuse or diversion of any of the Company’s
funds; 
 (C) embezzlement; (D) fraudulent or willful and material misrepresentations or Concealments on any
written reports submitted to the Company; or 
 (E) after a material breach by the Employee of any material
provision of this Agreement which, if correctable by the Employee, remains uncorrected for thirty (30) days following written notice of such breach to the Employee from the Company. 

(F) Termination of the Employee under 5(a) (iii) constitutes a separation from service for purposes of the Treasury
Regulations promulgated under the Internal Revenue Code. 
 (b) Upon termination of Employee’s employment pursuant to
Section 5(a) (ii) above, the Employee will be entitled to receive, and Company will pay, a lump sum severance compensation in an amount equal to one year’s annual base salary of the Employee, plus benefits for one year that Employee
may be entitled to receive pursuant to Subsection 4(b) above. Upon termination pursuant to Section 5(a)(i), or by Company pursuant to Section 5(a)(iii), above, the Company will pay all amounts of salary and benefits due through the
date of termination. 
 (c) Change of Control, for the purposes of this Agreement means (i) upon (A) the sale, lease
or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or (B) an acquisition of the Company by another corporation or entity by consolidation, merger or other reorganization in which the holders of the Company’s
outstanding voting stock immediately prior to such transaction own, immediately after such transaction, securities representing less than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the corporation or other entity surviving such transaction,
provided that a “Change of Control” shall not apply to a merger effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company. 
 6. Business Opportunities and Intellectual Property; Non-Compete; Non-Solicitation. Employee acknowledges that in the course of employment hereunder and performance of services on behalf of the
Company he will have access to confidential and proprietary business opportunities, economic and trade secrets and relationships of the Company. Therefore, in consideration of this Agreement, Employee hereby agrees as provided below in this
Section 6. 
 (a) Employee hereby assigns and agrees to assign to the Company and its successors, assigns or
designees, all of Employee’s right, title and interest in and to all Business Opportunities and Intellectual Property (as defined below), and further 






 
acknowledges and agrees that all Business Opportunities and Intellectual Property constitute the exclusive property of the Company. 

For purposes hereof “Business Opportunities” will mean all business ideas, prospects, proposals, products or other
opportunities pertaining to solicitation, service and retention of clients of the Company that are developed by Employee during the Employment Term, or originated by any third party and brought to the attention of Employee during the Employment
Term, together with information relating thereto. 
 For purposes hereof “Intellectual Property” will mean all ideas,
inventions, discoveries, processes, designs, methods, substances, articles, computer programs and improvements (including, without limitation, enhancements to, or further interpretation or processing of, information that was in the possession of
Employee prior to the date of this Agreement), whether or not patentable or copyrightable, which do not fall within the definition of Business Opportunities, which the Employee discovers, conceives, invents, creates or develops, alone or with
others, during the Employment Term, if such discovery, conception, invention, creation or development (A) occurs in the course of the Employee’s employment with the Company, or (B) occurs with the use of any of the Company’ time,
materials or facilities, or (C) in the opinion of the Board, relates or pertains in any material way to the Company’ purposes, activities or affairs. 
 (b) Non-Compete Obligations During Employment Term. Employee agrees that during the Employment Term, Employee will not, other than through the Company, engage or participate in any manner, whether
directly or indirectly through any family member or as an employee, employer, consultant, agent, principal, partner, more than one percent shareholder, officer, director, licensor, lender, lessor or in any other individual or representative
capacity, in any business or activity which is engaged in the business of acquiring or developing oil and gas properties. 
 (c)
Non-Compete Obligations – Post Termination. Employee agrees that in the event the Employee’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 5 (a)(i) or 5(a)(iii), during the period commencing on the date of termination up to one
year from the termination date, employee shall not, directly or indirectly engage in, participate in or assist, as principal or agent, officer, director, employee, franchisee, consultant, partner, shareholder, member or otherwise, alone or in
association with any other person, corporation or other entity, any business or activity which is engaged in the business of acquiring or developing oil and gas properties in competition with the company, provided, however, that the foregoing
restriction shall not apply in the case of a company the stock of which is traded either on a national or a regional stock exchange or over-the-counter, where Employee owns less than 5% of the stock of such company. 

(d) Non-Solicitation Obligations. The Employee will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof until one year from the
Termination Date with Company (the “Non-Solicitation Period”) for any reason solicit, entice, persuade or induce, directly or indirectly, on Employee’s own account or as an agent, stockholder, owner, employee, employer or otherwise:







 (1) Any business from (A) any current clients or customers of the
Company, or (B) any potential clients or customers of Company that Employee may have contacted or been assigned to during the Term hereof; or 
 (2) any employees, consultants, agents, representatives or any other person who is under contract with or rendering services of the Company to (A) terminate his or her employment by, or contractual
relationship with, the Company, (B) refrain from extending or renewing the same (upon the same or new terms), (C) refrain from rendering services to or for the Company, (D) become employed by or to enter into contractual relations
with any persons other than the Company, or (E) enter into a relationship with a competitor of the Company. 

(e) Non-Disparagement Obligations. (i) Employee agrees not to engage in any conduct or make any statements
which are critical of the Company, or any of the employees, officers, directors or other persons regarding, relating to or in connection with Employee’s employment, or if applicable, the termination of Employee’s employment or
Employee’s separation from the Company. 
 (ii) Employer agrees not to engage in any conduct or make any
statements which are critical of the Employee, relating to or in connection with Employee’s employment, or if applicable, the termination of Employee’s employment or Employee’s separation from the Company 

(f) Confidentiality Obligations. In connection with Employee’s employment with the Company, Company is furnishing certain
information and trade secrets to Employee that are non-public, confidential or proprietary in nature (the “Information”). The term Information means information or data in any form or medium, tangible or intangible, relating to the
business of the Company that is actually disclosed by the Company to the Employee, whether before or after the date of this Agreement, including, without limitation, information concerning (i) names, addresses, electronic mail addresses and
telephone, telex and facsimile numbers of employees, consultants, clients, customers and any other person or entity related to the business of the Company; (ii) information of a technical nature such as trade secrets, patents, product
specifications, data, know-how, formulas, compositions, processes, designs, sketches, photographs, graphs, drawings, samples, inventions and ideas, innovations, improvements, past, current and planned research and development, computer software and
programs (including object code and source code), and database technologies, systems, structures and architectures; (iii) information of a business nature, such as marketing plans, business plans, strategies, forecasts, unpublished financial
information, budgets, projections, information and data concerning costs, profits, market share, sales, current or planned service methods and processes, customer lists, current and anticipated customer requirements, price lists, market studies,
business plans, or information regarding suppliers or lenders; (iv) notes, photographs or memoranda related to the preceding subparts (i), (ii) and (iii); (v) information generated or derived by the Employee that contains, reflects or
is derived 






 
from any of the Information described above; and (vi) any other information obtained from the Company that is not known to the public. 

The term “Information” does not include information which (1) has been or may in the future be publicly available through
no fault of the Employee and not in violation of the rights of the Company; (2) prior to disclosure by the Company is known to or is within the legitimate possession of the Employee; (3) is received in good faith by the Employee from any
third party without notice of any restriction against its further disclosure; (4) is independently developed by persons who have not had access to or knowledge of the Information; (5) is not considered confidential by the Company; or
(6) must be produced under applicable law or an order of court of competent jurisdiction. 
 (i) Written
Information considered by the Company as confidential or proprietary and provided to him need not be clearly marked in a conspicuous place to be considered as confidential or proprietary. Company will use its best efforts to mark Written Information
as confidential or proprietary. Oral information delivered by the Company shall also be confidential or proprietary pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. 
 (ii) In consideration of Company disclosing the Information to him, Employee agrees to keep the Information strictly confidential and shall not disclose the Information without the prior written consent
of Company to any person, including any corporations, divisions, subsidiaries, associates, employees, directors, officers, guarantors, counsel, agents and consultants (collectively, “Representatives”) of the Employee who are not
directly involved in the business of the Company and shall not be used by him or his Representatives other than in connection with business of the Company. The Information shall remain at all times the property of Company, and no license is granted
hereby. 
 (iii) Employee agrees that within three (3) business days of Company’s request, all copies
of the Information in any form whatsoever, including any electronic formats, (including, but not limited to any reports, memoranda or other materials prepared by Employee or at his direction) will be returned by him to Company, and he shall provide
a certificate to Company that all Information has been returned. 
 (iv) In the event that Employee or anyone to
whom he supplies the Information receives a request to disclose all or any part of the Information, including any request under the terms of a subpoena or governmental body, Employee agrees to (A) immediately notify Company of the existence,
terms and circumstances surrounding such a request; (B) consult with Company on the advisability of taking legally available steps to resist or narrow such request; and (C) if disclosure of such Information is required, furnish only that
portion of the Information which, in the written opinion of counsel of Company, Employee is legally compelled to disclose, and to exercise commercially reasonable efforts to obtain an order or other reliable assurance that confidential treatment
will be 






 
accorded to such portion of the disclosed Information that Company so designates. 
 (v) Neither the Company nor any of its Representatives has made or makes any representation or warranty as to the Information’s accuracy or completeness. Employee agrees that neither Company nor its
Representatives shall have any liability to him or any of his Representatives resulting from the provision or use of the Information. 
 7. Divisibility of Agreement. In the event that any term, condition or provision of this Agreement is for any reason rendered void, all remaining terms, conditions and provisions will remain and
continue as valid and enforceable obligations of the parties. 
 8. Notices. Any notices or other communications required
or permitted to be sent hereunder will be in writing and will be duly given if personally delivered or sent postage pre-paid by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to each party as follows: 

 

					
	(a)	  	To the Company:	  	Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations, LLC
		  		  	11451 Katy Freeway, Suite 500
		  		  	Houston, Texas 77079
		  		  	Attn: John G. Hoffman
			
	(b)	  	To the Employee:	  	Bruce Koch
		  		  	35 Meadow Brook Pl.
		  		  	The Woodlands, Texas 77382

 Either party may change his or its address for the sending of notice to such party by written notice to the other party
sent in accordance with the provisions hereof. 
 9. Complete Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding
of the parties with respect to the employment of Employee and supersedes all prior arrangements or understanding with respect thereto and all oral or written employment agreements or arrangements between the Company and Employee. This Agreement may
not be altered or amended except in a writing duly executed by both parties. 
 10. Assignment. This Agreement is
personal and non-assignable by Employee. It will inure to the benefit of any corporation or other entity with which the Company will merge or consolidate or to which the Company will sell all or substantially all of its assets and may be assigned by
the Company to any affiliate of the Company or to any corporation or entity with which such affiliate will merge or consolidate or which will acquire all or substantially all of the assets of such affiliate. 

11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be an original and all of which together will
constitute one and the same agreement. 






 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written. 
  

							
	COMPANY:	 		 	BLACK ELK ENERGY OFFSHORE OPERATIONS, LLC
				
		 		 	By:	 	/s/ John Hoffman
		 		 	Name:	 	John Hoffman
		 		 	Title:	 	President and CEO
			
	EMPLOYEE:	 		 	/s/ Bruce Koch
		 		 	Name:	 	Bruce Koch