Document:

EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

STEPHEN R. NICHOLS

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of July 10, 2006, by and between
U-STORE-IT TRUST, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), and Stephen R. Nichols
(the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Company has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders to enter into an employment agreement with the Executive and the Executive is willing
to serve as an employee of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Term. The Company hereby employs the Executive, and the Executive hereby accepts
such employment for an initial term commencing as of the date hereof and ending on December 31,
2007, unless sooner terminated in accordance with the provisions of Section 4 or Section 5 (the
period during which the Executive is employed hereunder being hereinafter referred to as the
“Term”). The Term shall be subject to automatic one-year renewals unless either party hereto
notifies the other, in accordance with Section 7.4, of non-renewal at least ninety (90) days prior
to the end of any such Term. Notwithstanding the employment of the Executive by the Company, the
Company shall be entitled to pay the Executive from the payroll of any subsidiary of the Company.

2. Duties. The Executive, in his capacity as Senior Vice President, Operations, shall
faithfully perform for the Company the duties of said office and shall perform such other duties of
an executive, managerial or administrative nature as shall be specified and designated from time to
time by the Board of Trustees of the Company (the “Board”) (including the performance of services
for, and serving on the Board of Directors or a comparable governing body of, any subsidiary or
affiliate of the Company without any additional compensation). The Executive shall devote
substantially all of the Executive’s business time and effort to the performance of the Executive’s
duties hereunder, provided that in no event shall this sentence prohibit the Executive from
performing personal and charitable activities and any other activities approved by the Board, so
long as such activities do not materially and adversely interfere with the Executive’s duties for
the Company. The Board may delegate its authority to take any action under this Agreement to the
Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”).

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3. Compensation.

3.1 Salary. The Company shall pay the Executive during the Term a base salary at the
rate of $225,000 per annum (the “Annual Salary”), in accordance with the customary payroll
practices of the Company applicable to senior executives generally. The Annual Salary may be
increased annually by an amount as may be approved by the Board or the Compensation Committee, and,
upon such increase, the increased amount shall thereafter be deemed to be the Annual Salary for
purposes of this Agreement.

3.2 Bonus. The Executive will be eligible to participate in the Company’s annual
bonus plan with an annual target bonus equal to 40% of annual base compensation (the “Bonus Plan”),
the terms of which will be established by the Compensation Committee. For 2006, the Executive will
be paid a bonus of not less than $37,500. The Executive may be awarded such restricted shares,
share options and other equity-based awards under the Company’s equity compensation plan (“Equity
Awards”) as the Compensation Committee determines to be appropriate.

3.3 Benefits – In General. The Executive shall be permitted during the Term to
participate in any group life, hospitalization or disability insurance plans, health programs,
pension and profit sharing plans and similar benefits that may be available to similarly situated
senior executives of the Company generally, on the same terms as may be applicable to such other
executives, in each case to the extent that the Executive is eligible under the terms of such plans
or programs. During the Term, the Company shall maintain customary liability insurance for
trustees and officers and list the Executive as a covered officer.

3.4 Vacation. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to vacation of four
(4) weeks per year.

3.5 Automobile. During the Term, the Company will provide the Executive an allowance
of $6,000 per year for the use of an automobile (including the payment of vehicle insurance). At
the option of the Executive, in lieu of providing such allowance, the Company will provide the
Executive with an automobile of suitable standard to the Executive’s position.

3.6 Expenses. The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all ordinary and
reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses actually incurred (and, in the case of reimbursement,
paid) by the Executive during the Term in the performance of the Executive’s services under this
Agreement, pursuant to the Company’s standard expense reimbursement policy as in effect from time
to time, so long as the Executive provides proper documentation establishing the amount, date and
business purpose of the expenses.

4. Termination upon Death or Disability. If the Executive dies during the Term, the
obligations of the Company to or with respect to the Executive shall terminate in their entirety
except as otherwise provided under this Section 4. If the Executive becomes eligible for
disability benefits under the Company’s long-term disability plans and arrangements (or, if none
apply, would have been so eligible under the most recent plan or arrangement), the Company shall
have the right, to the extent permitted by law, to terminate the employment of the Executive upon

 

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notice in writing to the Executive and such termination in and of itself shall not be, nor shall it
be deemed to be, a breach of this Agreement; provided, that, the Company will have no right to
terminate the Executive’s employment if, in the opinion of a qualified physician reasonably
acceptable to the Company, it is reasonably certain that the Executive will be able to resume the
Executive’s duties on a regular full-time basis within 90 days of the date the Executive receives
notice of such termination.

Upon death or other termination of employment by virtue of disability (i) the Executive (or
the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries in the case of the death of the Executive) shall have no
right to receive any compensation or benefit hereunder on and after the Effective Date of the
Termination other than Annual Salary earned and accrued under this Agreement prior to the Effective
Date of the Termination, any bonus for the prior year not yet paid, and other benefits, including
payment for accrued but unused vacation, earned and accrued under this Agreement prior to the
Effective Date of the Termination (and reimbursement under this Agreement for expenses incurred but
not paid prior to the Effective Date of the Termination) and an amount equal to the product of (x)
the Executive’s target annual bonus for the fiscal year of the Executive’s death or disability and
(y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the
Effective Date of the Termination, and the denominator of which is 365; (ii) all Equity Awards held
by the Executive shall become fully vested and exercisable; and (iii) this Agreement shall
otherwise terminate upon the Effective Date of the Termination and there shall be no further rights
with respect to the Executive hereunder (except as provided in Section 7.13). For purposes of this
Section 4, the “Effective Date of the Termination” shall mean the date of death or the date on
which a notice of termination by virtue of disability is given or any later date (within thirty
(30) days after the giving of such notice) set forth in such notice of termination.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Executive acknowledges and agrees that the payments set forth
in this Section 4 constitute liquidated damages for termination of his employment during the Term
upon death or by virtue of disability.

5. Other Terminations of Employment.

5.1 Termination for Cause; Termination of Employment by the Executive Without Good
Reason.

(a) For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean:

(i) the Executive’s conviction for (or pleading nolo contendere to) any felony
or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;

(ii) the Executive’s commission of an act of fraud, theft or dishonesty related
to the business of the Company or its affiliates or the performance of the
Executive’s duties hereunder;

(iii) the willful and continuing failure or habitual neglect by the Executive
to perform the Executive’s duties hereunder;

 

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(iv) any material violation by the Executive of the covenants contained in
Section 6 or that certain Non-Competition Agreement dated as of the date hereof
between the Executive and the Company (the “Non-Competition Agreement”); or

(v) the Executive’s willful and continuing material breach of this Agreement.

For purposes of this Section 5.1, no act, or failure to act, by Executive shall be considered
“willful” unless committed in bad faith and without a reasonable belief that the act or omission
was in the best interests of the Company or its subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if
there exists (without regard to this sentence) an event or condition that constitutes Cause under
clause (iii), (iv) or (v) above, the Executive shall have 30 days from the date written notice is
given by the Company of such event or condition to cure such event or condition and, if the
Executive does so, such event or condition shall not constitute Cause hereunder.

(b) For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean, unless otherwise consented to by
the Executive:

(i) the material reduction of the Executive’s authority, duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive of duties materially and
adversely inconsistent with the Executive’s position or positions with the Company
and its subsidiaries;

(ii) a reduction in Annual Salary of the Executive;

(iii) the failure by the Company to obtain an agreement from any successor to
the business of the Company to assume and agree to perform this Agreement;

(iv) a change in control (for purposes of this Section, “Change in Control”)
shall mean:

(A) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (B) the merger,
consolidation, or reorganization of the Company with one or more
other entities in which the Company is not the surviving entity or
immediately following which the persons or entities who were
beneficial owners (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) of
voting securities of the Company immediately prior thereto cease to
beneficially own more than 50% of the voting securities of the
surviving entity immediately thereafter, (C) a sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company to another person or
entity other than an affiliate of the Company, (D) any transaction
(including without limitation a merger or reorganization in which the
Company is the surviving entity) that results in any person or entity
or

 

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“group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the
Exchange Act) (other than persons who are shareholders or affiliates
immediately prior to the transaction) owning thirty percent (30%) or
more of the combined voting power of all classes of shares of the
Company, or (E) individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute
the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute
at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any
individual becoming a trustee subsequent to the date hereof whose
election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders,
was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the trustees then
comprising the Incumbent Board (either by a specific vote or by
approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person
is named as a nominee for trustee, without written objection to such
nomination) shall be considered as though such individual were a
member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any
such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result
of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the
election or removal of trustees or other actual or threatened
solicitation of proxies or contests by or on behalf of a person other
than the Board;

(v) a requirement by the Company that the Executive’s work location be moved
more than fifty (50) miles from the Company’s principal place of business in
Cleveland, Ohio unless the relocation results in the work location being closer to
Executive’s residence; or

(vi) the Company’s material and willful breach of this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if there exists (without regard to this sentence) an event or
condition that constitutes Good Reason under clause (i), (ii), (v) or (vi) above, the Company shall
have 30 days from the date on which the Executive gives the written notice thereof to cure such
event or condition and, if the Company does so, such event or condition shall not constitute Good
Reason hereunder. Further, an event or condition shall cease to constitute Good Reason one (1)
year after the event or condition first occurs.

(c) The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for Cause and such
termination in and of itself shall not be, nor shall it be deemed to be, a breach of this
Agreement. If the Company terminates the Executive for Cause, (i) the Executive shall have no
right to receive any compensation or benefit hereunder on and after the Effective Date of the
Termination other than Annual Salary and other benefits, including payment for accrued but unused
vacation (but excluding any bonuses except as provided in the Bonus Plan) earned and accrued under
this Agreement prior to the Effective Date of the Termination (and reimbursement under this
Agreement for expenses incurred but not paid prior to the Effective Date of the Termination); and
(ii) this Agreement shall otherwise terminate upon the Effective Date of the Termination and the
Executive shall have no further rights hereunder (except as provided in

 

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Section 7.13). For purposes of this Section 5.1(c), the “Effective Date of the Termination” shall
mean the date on which a notice of termination is given or any later date (within thirty (30) days
after the giving of such notice) set forth in such notice of termination.

(d) The Executive may terminate his employment without Good Reason. If the Executive
terminates the Executive’s employment with the Company without Good Reason: (i) the Executive shall
have no right to receive any compensation or benefit hereunder on and after the Effective Date of
the Termination other than Annual Salary and other benefits, including payment for accrued but
unused vacation (but excluding any bonuses except as provided in the Bonus Plan) earned and accrued
under this Agreement prior to the Effective Date of the Termination (and reimbursement under this
Agreement for expenses incurred but not paid prior to the Effective Date of the Termination); and
(ii) this Agreement shall otherwise terminate upon the Effective Date of the Termination and the
Executive shall have no further rights hereunder (except as provided in Section 7.13). For
purposes of this Section 5.1(d), the “Effective Date of the Termination” shall mean the date on
which a notice of termination is given or any later date (within thirty (30) days after the giving
of such notice) set forth in such notice of termination.

(e) In the event the Company elects not to renew this Agreement as contemplated in Section 1
above, the Executive shall receive a cash payment equal to one (1) times the sum of: (i) the
Executive’s Annual Salary in effect on the day of expiration of the Term and (ii) the average bonus
actually paid to the Executive with respect to the prior two (2) calendar years, payable no later
than 30 days after the day of expiration of the Term.

5.2 Termination Without Cause; Termination for Good Reason. The Company may terminate
the Executive’s employment at any time without Cause, for any reason or no reason and the Executive
may terminate the Executive’s employment with the Company for Good Reason. If the Company or the
Executive terminates the Executive’s employment and such termination is not described in Section 4
or Section 5.1, (i) the Executive shall have no right to receive any compensation or benefit
hereunder on and after the Effective Date of the Termination other than Annual Salary earned and
accrued under this Agreement prior to the Effective Date of the Termination, any bonus for the
prior year which has been awarded but not yet paid, and other benefits, including payment for
accrued but unused vacation, earned and accrued under this Agreement prior to the Effective Date of
the Termination (and reimbursement under this Agreement for expenses incurred but not paid prior to
the Effective Date of the Termination) and an amount equal to the product of (x) the Executive’s
target annual bonus for the fiscal year of the Executive’s termination of employment and (y) a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the
Effective Date of the Termination, and the denominator of which is 365; (ii) the Executive shall
receive a cash payment equal to the Severance Payment payable no later than 30 days after the
Effective Date of the Termination; (iii) for eighteen (18) months after the Effective Date of the
Termination, the Company shall continue medical, prescription and dental benefits to the Executive
and/or the Executive’s family at least equal to those which would have been provided to them in
accordance with the welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company
to the extent applicable generally to other peer employees of the Company and its affiliated
companies, as if the Executive’s employment had not been terminated; provided,
however, that if the Executive becomes reemployed with another employer and is eligible to
receive medical, prescription and dental

 

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benefits under another employer provided plan, the medical, prescription and dental benefits
described herein shall be secondary to those provided under such other plan during such applicable
period of eligibility; (iv) all Equity Awards held by the Executive shall become fully vested and
exercisable (notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 14 of the Company’s 2004
Equity Incentive Plan or any other provision thereof); and (v) this Agreement shall otherwise
terminate upon the Effective Date of the Termination and the Executive shall have no further rights
hereunder (except as provided in Section 7.13). The “Severance Payment” means two (2) times the
sum of: (i) the Executive’s Annual Salary in effect on the day of termination and (ii) the
Executive’s Average Annual Bonus. The Executive’s “Average Annual Bonus” means the average bonus
actually paid to the Executive with respect to the prior two (2) calendar years. For purposes of
this Section 5.2, the “Effective Date of the Termination” shall mean the date on which a notice of
termination is given or any later date (within thirty (30) days after the giving of such notice)
set forth in such notice of termination, or in the case of termination of employment by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date of termination specified in such Executive’s notice of
termination.

5.3 Nature of Payments. For the avoidance of doubt, the Executive acknowledges and
agrees that the payments set forth in this Section 5 constitute liquidated damages for termination
of his employment during the Term.

6. Confidential and Proprietary Information.

6.1 Confidential Information. The Executive shall keep secret and retain in strictest
confidence, and shall not use for his personal benefit or the benefit of others or directly or
indirectly disclose, except as may be required or appropriate in connection with his carrying out
his duties under this Agreement, all confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the
Company or any of its affiliates, or to the Company’s or any such affiliate’s respective businesses
and investments (including confidential information of others that has come into the possession of
the Company or any such affiliate), learned by the Executive heretofore or hereafter directly or
indirectly from the Company or any of its affiliates and which is not generally available lawfully
and without breach of confidential or other fiduciary obligation to the general public without
restriction (the “Confidential Company Information”), except with the Company’s express written
consent or as may otherwise be required by law or any legal process.

6.2 Return of Documents; Rights to Products. All memoranda, notes, lists, records,
property and any other tangible product and documents (and all copies thereof) made, produced or
compiled by the Executive or made available to the Executive concerning the businesses and
investments of the Company and its affiliates shall be the Company’s property and shall be
delivered to the Company at any time on request. The Executive shall assign to the Company all
rights to trade secrets and other products relating to the Company’s business developed by him
alone or in conjunction with others at any time while employed by the Company.

6.3 Rights and Remedies upon Breach. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that any
breach by him of any of the provisions of this Section 6 (the “Restrictive Covenants”) would result
in irreparable injury and damage for which money damages would not

 

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provide an adequate remedy. Therefore, if the Executive breaches any of the Restrictive Covenants,
the Company and its affiliates shall have the right and remedy to have the Restrictive Covenants
specifically enforced (without posting bond and without the need to prove damages) by any court
having equity jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the right to an entry against the
Executive of restraining orders and injunctions (preliminary, mandatory, temporary and permanent)
against violations, threatened or actual, and whether or not then continuing, of such covenants.
This right and remedy shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies
available to the Company and its affiliates under law or in equity (including, without limitation,
the recovery of damages).

7. Other Provisions.

7.1 Severability. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Executive has had an
opportunity to seek advice of counsel in connection with this Agreement. If it is determined that
any of the provisions of this Agreement, or any part thereof, is invalid or unenforceable, the
remainder of the provisions of this Agreement shall not thereby be affected and shall be given full
affect, without regard to the invalid portions.

7.2 Enforceability; Jurisdictions. The Company and the Executive intend to and hereby
confer jurisdiction to enforce the Restrictive Covenants upon the courts of the State of Ohio. If
any court holds the Restrictive Covenants wholly unenforceable by reason of breadth of scope or
otherwise it is the intention of the Company and the Executive that such determination not bar or
in any way affect the Company’s right, or the right of any of its affiliates, to the relief
provided above in the courts of any other jurisdiction within the geographical scope of such
Restrictive Covenants, as to breaches of such Restrictive Covenants in such other respective
jurisdictions, such Restrictive Covenants as they relate to each jurisdiction’s being, for this
purpose, severable, diverse and independent covenants, subject, where appropriate, to the doctrine
of res judicata.

7.3 Attorneys’ Fees. In the event of any legal proceeding relating to this Agreement
or any term or provision thereof, the losing party shall be responsible to pay or reimburse the
prevailing party for all reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by the prevailing party in connection
with such proceeding; provided, however, the Executive shall not be required to pay or reimburse
the Company unless the claim or defense asserted by the Executive was unreasonable.

7.4 Notices. All notices, requests, demands, claims, and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim, or other communication
hereunder shall be deemed duly delivered (i) two business days after it is sent by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (ii) when received if it is sent by
facsimile communication during normal business hours on a business day or one business day after it
is sent by facsimile and received if sent other than during business hours on a business day,
(iii) one business day after it is sent via a reputable overnight courier service, charges prepaid,
or (iv) when received if it is delivered by hand, in each case to the intended recipient as set
forth below:

 

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(i) If to the Company, to:

U-Store-It Trust

6745 Engle Road

Suite 300

Middleburg Heights, OH 44130

Attention: Dean Jernigan

Facsimile: (440) 234-8776

with a copy to:

U-Store-It Trust

6745 Engle Road

Suite 300

Middleburg Heights, OH 44130

Attention: Kathleen A. Weigand

Facsimile: (440) 260-2397

	 	(ii)	 	If to the Executive, to the
address set forth in the records of the Company.

Any such person may by notice given in accordance with this Section to the other parties hereto
designate another address or person for receipt by such person of notices hereunder.

7.5 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the exhibits hereto and the
Noncompetition Agreement, contains the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, with the Company or its
subsidiaries (or any predecessor of either).

7.6 Waivers and Amendments. This Agreement may be amended, superseded, canceled,
renewed or extended, and the terms hereof may be waived, only by a written instrument signed by the
parties or, in the case of a waiver, by the party waiving compliance. No delay on the part of any
party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor
shall any waiver on the part of any party of any such right, power or privilege nor any single or
partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege, preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other such right, power or privilege.

7.7 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF OHIO WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

7.8 Assignment. This Agreement, and the Executive’s rights and obligations hereunder,
may not be assigned by the Executive; any purported assignment by the Executive in

 

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violation hereof shall be null and void. In the event of any Change in Control, the Company may
assign this Agreement and its rights hereunder.

7.9 Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any payments or
deemed payments any amount of withholding required by law. No other taxes, fees, impositions,
duties or other charges or offsets of any kind shall be deducted or withheld from amounts payable
hereunder, unless otherwise required by law.

7.10 No Duty to Mitigate. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or
the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other employment or
otherwise, nor will any payments hereunder be subject to offset in the event the Executive does
mitigate.

7.11 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the parties and their respective successors, permitted assigns, heirs, executors and legal
representatives.

7.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in separate
counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original but all such
counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Each counterpart may consist
of two copies hereof each signed by one of the parties hereto.

7.13 Survival. Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,
the provisions of Sections 6 and 7 (to the extent necessary to effectuate the survival of Sections
6 and 7) shall survive termination of this Agreement and any termination of the Executive’s
employment hereunder.

7.14 Existing Agreements. Executive represents to the Company that the Executive is
not subject or a party to any employment or consulting agreement, non-competition covenant or other
agreement, covenant or understanding which might prohibit the Executive from executing this
Agreement or limit the Executive’s ability to fulfill the Executive’s responsibilities hereunder.

7.15 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference only and shall not
affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

7.16 Parachute Provisions. If any amount payable to or other benefit receivable by
the Executive pursuant to this Agreement is deemed to constitute a Parachute Payment (as defined
below), alone or when added to any other amount payable or paid to or other benefit receivable or
received by the Executive which is deemed to constitute a Parachute Payment (whether or not under
an existing plan, arrangement or other agreement), and would result in the imposition on the
Executive of an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
then, in addition to any other benefits to which the Executive is entitled under this Agreement,
the Executive shall be paid by the Company an amount in cash equal to the sum of the excise taxes
payable by the Executive by reason of receiving Parachute Payments plus the amount necessary to put
the Executive in the same after-tax position (taking into account any and

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all applicable federal, state and local excise, income or other taxes at the highest applicable
rates on such Parachute Payments and on any payments under this Section 7.16) as if no excise taxes
had been imposed with respect to Parachute Payments. The amount of any payment under this Section
7.16 shall be computed by a certified public accounting firm mutually and reasonably acceptable to
the Executive and the Company, the computation expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
“Parachute Payment” shall mean any payment deemed to constitute a “parachute payment” as defined in
Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

7.17 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

(a) an “affiliate” of any person means another person that directly or indirectly, through one
or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such first
person, and includes subsidiaries.

(b) A “business day” means the period from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on any weekday that is not a
banking holiday in New York City, New York.

(c) A “subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other entity in which
at least a majority interest in such entity is owned directly or indirectly by the Company.

* * *

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have signed their names as of the day and year first
above written.

U-STORE-IT TRUST

By: Dean Jernigan

Name: Dean Jernigan

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

EXECUTIVE

Stephen R. Nichols

Stephen R. Nichols

11

11EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

Grant No.: ________ 

U-STORE-IT TRUST

2004 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

RESTRICTED SHARE AGREEMENT

U-Store-It Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), grants common shares of
beneficial interest, $.01 par value (the “Shares”), of the Company to the Grantee named below,
subject to the vesting conditions set forth in the attachment. Additional terms and conditions of
the grant are set forth in this cover sheet, in the attachment, and in the Company’s 2004 Equity
Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

Grant Date: July 10, 2006

Name of Grantee: Stephen R. Nichols

Grantee’s Social Security Number:      -     -     

Number of Shares Covered by Grant: 3,744

By signing this cover sheet, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described in the attached
Agreement and in the Plan, a copy of which will be provided on request. You acknowledge that you
have carefully reviewed the Plan and agree that the Plan will control in the event any provision of
this Agreement should appear to be inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

Grantee:

Stephen R. Nichols

Stephen R. Nichols

Company:

Dean Jernigan

Dean Jernigan

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

Attachments 

This is not a share certificate or a negotiable instrument.

1

U-STORE-IT TRUST

2004 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

RESTRICTED SHARE AGREEMENT

	 	 	 	 	 
	Restricted

Shares/

Nontransferability

	 	 
	 	This grant is an award of Shares in the number of Shares set forth on the

cover sheet subject to the vesting conditions described below (“Restricted

Shares”). To the extent not yet vested, your Restricted Shares may not be

transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, whether by operation of law or

otherwise, nor may the Restricted Shares be made subject to execution,

attachment or similar process.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	Issuance and Vesting

	 	 
	 	The Company will issue your Restricted Shares in your name as of the Grant

Date.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	Your right to the Shares under this Restricted Share Agreement vests as to the

total number of Shares covered by this grant, as shown on the cover sheet, on

the first five anniversaries of the date of grant provided you then continue

in Service with respect to each such vesting date.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	Your right to the Shares under this Restricted Share Agreement will become

fully vested on your termination of Services due to death or disability. No

additional Shares will vest after your Service has terminated for any reason,

other than pursuant to the terms of any Employment Agreement between you and

the Company.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	Forfeiture of

Unvested Shares

	 	 
	 	Except as provided pursuant to the terms of any Employment Agreement between

you and the Company, in the event that your Service terminates for any reason

other than death or disability, you will forfeit to the Company all of the

Shares subject to this grant that have not yet vested.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	Withholding Taxes

	 	 
	 	You agree, as a condition of this grant, that you will make acceptable

arrangements to pay any withholding or other taxes that may be due as a result

of the vesting of Shares acquired under this grant. In the event that the

Company determines that any federal, state, local or foreign tax or

withholding payment is required relating to the vesting of Shares arising from

this grant, the Company shall have the right to: (i) require such payments

from you, (ii) withhold such amounts from other payments due to you from the

Company or any Affiliate, or (iii) cause an immediate forfeiture of Shares

subject to the vesting pursuant to this Agreement in an amount equal to the

withholding or other taxes due.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	Retention Rights

	 	 
	 	This Agreement does not give you the right to be retained by the Company (or

any parent, Subsidiaries or Affiliates) in any capacity.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	

	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	Shareholder Rights

	 	 
	 	You have the right to vote the Restricted Shares and to receive any dividends

declared or paid on such Shares. Any distributions you receive as a result of

any split, dividend, combination of Shares or other similar transaction shall

be deemed to be a part of the Restricted Shares and subject to the same

conditions and restrictions applicable thereto. Except as described in the

Plan, no adjustments are made for dividends or other rights if the applicable

record date occurs before your share certificate is issued.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	Adjustments

	 	 
	 	In the event of a split, a dividend or a similar change in the Shares, the

number of Shares covered by this grant may be adjusted (and rounded down to

the nearest whole number) pursuant to the Plan. Your Restricted Shares shall

be subject to the terms of the agreement of merger, liquidation or

reorganization in the event the Company is subject to such corporate activity.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Legends

	 	 
	 	All certificates representing the Shares issued in connection with this grant

shall, where applicable, have endorsed thereon the following legends:
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	“THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN

RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE

REGISTERED HOLDER, OR HIS OR HER PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST. A COPY OF SUCH

AGREEMENT IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE COMPANY AND WILL BE

FURNISHED UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY BY THE HOLDER

OF RECORD OF THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE.”
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	Applicable Law

	 	 
	 	This Agreement will be interpreted and enforced under the laws of the State of

Maryland, other than any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that

might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Agreement to the

substantive law of another jurisdiction.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	Data Privacy

	 	 
	 	In order to administer the Plan, the Company may process personal data about

you. Such data includes, but is not limited to, the information provided in

this Agreement and any changes thereto, other appropriate personal and

financial data about you such as home address and business addresses and other

contact information, payroll information and any other information that might

be deemed appropriate by the Company to facilitate the administration of the

Plan.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	By accepting this grant, you give explicit consent to the Company to process

any such personal data. You also give explicit consent to the Company to

transfer any such personal data outside the country in which you work or are

employed, including, with respect to non-U.S. resident
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	

	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	Grantees, to the United States, to transferees who shall include the Company

and other persons who are designated by the Company to administer the Plan.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	Consent to

Electronic Delivery

	 	 
	 	The Company may choose to deliver certain statutory materials relating to the

Plan in electronic form. By accepting this grant, you agree that the Company

may deliver the Plan prospectus and the Company’s annual report to you in an

electronic format. If at any time you would prefer to receive paper copies of

these documents, as you are entitled to, the Company would be pleased to

provide copies. Please contact the Secretary of the Company to request paper

copies of these documents.

By signing the cover sheet of this Agreement, you agree to all of the terms and conditions
described above and in the Plan.

 

2

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