Companies sometimes use non-compete agreements when hiring employees to protect their interests and intellectual property. Companies use non-compete agreements in order to protect their trade secrets, client lists, and other proprietary information. While non-compete agreements can protect your company for a period of time, these contracts must be written in a manner that allows them to be enforceable should they be broken. When an employee signs a non-compete agreement, he or she generally agrees to not work for a competitor or start a competing business against his or her employer for a limited period of time after leaving the job. In some cases, the non-compete agreement strictly prevents the employer from soliciting clients.

Because non-compete agreements can limit a person’s ability to work in their own field or further their career, the courts may closely scrutinize an agreement before enforcing it. A non-compete agreement, in order to be valid, must offer the employee some form of benefit for signing on, must be limited in scope (in terms of geography and time period), and must specify what business interest the employer wishes to protect in the agreement. This can be trade secrets, intellectual property, or client lists.

For example, it can be tough to enforce a non-compete agreement that is too broad in nature. In order for non-compete agreements to be enforceable, they must stipulate the specific region where a person is not permitted to work or compete. The agreements cannot be in place for an indefinite period of time. Most non-compete agreements are enforceable for a limited period of time.

If you have legitimate business interests you’d like to protect and would like to implement a non-compete agreement, consider speaking to Gatlin Voelker non-compete agreement attorneys. Our firm can review your needs, your concerns, and help you find a solution that meets your business’ needs and interests. Protect your business. Speak to us today at (859) 781-9100 or fill out our contact form below.