So I am currently an IT consultant for a consulting company. One of my clients offered me a job for more than double what I currently earn. I have signed a non-compete agreement with my current consulting firm for which I work. I will ask the company that wants to hire me to ask their legal team to review my non-compete clause, but when I discuss it with other consultants in my company, I will think it is a pretty strong non-compete clause. I know it is not possible for anyone to answer this question without looking at my non-compete agreement, but one way around this was to set up a consulting firm on my behalf. Let the company that wants to hire me pay the expected salary + benefits to the consulting firm until my non-compete obligation expires. Is this generally something that would be prevented in most non-compete obligations? Are there other ways to get around a non-compete clause (again, I usually know you have to look at my contract to be sure). Thank you! Obligation of non-competition with the company. In consideration for the remuneration and benefits that the Company pays and is required to pay to the Officer under this Agreement, the Officer hereby agrees that the Officer will not seek or maintain, directly or indirectly, a competitive position in the Restricted Territory during the Limited Period without the prior written consent of the Company; provided, however, that the provisions of this Agreement shall not be construed as prohibiting the ownership by law enforcement of the securities of the Company or its affiliates or not more than five percent (5%) of any class of securities of a company whose class of securities is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. COVID-19 can be seen as a reason to opt out of a non-compete clause and effectively avoid a breach of contract claim.

In addition, the applicability of non-compete obligations may vary from state to state. The legal status of these agreements falls within the jurisdiction of the United States. The recognition and enforcement of non-compete obligations vary considerably from state to state; some States will not apply them at all. Definitions. For the purposes of this Agreement, “competitive activity” means the participation of the officer in the management of a corporation without the written consent of one of the chief executive officers or chief operating officers (unless the officer holds one of these positions, in which case the board of directors is required to give such written consent), where appropriate, to the management of a company, if that undertaking is in substantial and direct competition with the undertaking or one of its undertakings. Sales of products or services competing with a product or service of the enterprise or one of its affiliates amounted to 5 % of the net turnover of that enterprise for the last financial year ended and, if the net turnover of the enterprise with that product or service was 5 % of the respective amount, the net turnover of the company or its affiliates for the last financial year concluded Financial year. “Competitive activity” does not include (i) the mere holding of 5 % or more of shares in such an undertaking and the exercise of the rights attached thereto, nor (ii) participation in the management of that undertaking, except in the context of the competitive activity of that undertaking. Non-compete obligations are not the same as non-disclosure agreements or non-disclosure agreements. A typical NDA will not prevent an employee from taking a job with a competitor. Non-disclosure agreements are designed to prevent employees from revealing or sharing information that an employer deems confidential or proprietary. In addition, the way in which jurisdictions interpret the terms of a non-compete agreement that could be considered excessively restrictive or onerous for an employee can vary considerably.

Non-compete obligations are widely used in the business world in general. These agreements are also common in some industries. Examples of industries that frequently use non-compete obligations include: While a non-compete clause prevents unfair competition, each agreement should include specific guidelines, including: Most states that allow non-compete obligations have some sort of standard regarding appropriate restrictions: Here`s an article where you can learn more about non-disclosure agreements. You cannot work for a competitor if you have signed a non-competition clause. However, exceptions may apply to your specific situation. Non-compete obligations can also have a detrimental effect on the workforce in general. These agreements can prevent top talent from using their experience and skills, causing them to leave the field altogether. The purpose of non-compete obligations is to protect companies from former employees who enjoy competitive advantages over their competitors. It is not only an intellectual property tool, but it also binds important employees. Employers may also want to create non-compete agreements to prevent former employees from revealing sensitive information or secrets: If you plan to draft a non-compete agreement for your company, you should consider some tips to make your agreements more fruitful.

These include non-compete obligations that must meet certain criteria to be enforceable. The lawyer should review any non-compete agreement to ensure that it is not excessively harmful or restrictive to the employee. A non-compete obligation can be a useful tool for employers. It is important to work with a trusted lawyer who understands the intricacies of this type of agreement in the state where you are doing business. A non-compete obligation is a contract between an employer and an employee. In this type of legal contract, the employee undertakes not to compete with the employer during his employment or after the end of his employment. Non-compete obligations prevent employees from accessing professions or markets that the employer considers to be in direct competition with their company. I am a shameless contract law geek with a passion for providing contracts that protect your business as part of your risk tolerance. Contracts must be clear, concise and understandable to the end user. I promote contract writing in plain English. I also pay particular attention to the boilerplate traps that trigger many agreements.

Some of my most common projects include corporate and shareholder agreements, articles of association, asset purchase agreements, commercial leases, EULA, terms of use, privacy policies, confidentiality agreements, employment contracts, etc.