> Next time, consider having a buy-sell agreement, vesting, options rather than shares, etc. irrespective of which side of the transaction you are on.
Huh? Based on the situation described by the OP, it sounds like he or she owns shares outright, possibly free of any major restrictions. This is the very best scenario a (former) employee will ever be in because the company has far less leverage.
Buy-sell agreements, vesting and options almost always work against the interests of employees and former employees.