Restrictive Covenants
Employment contracts often contain restrictive covenants which are designed to protect the employer’s legitimate business interests.
They can include restrictions that may:
- prevent you from using trade secrets or other highly confidential information when you leave your employment
- prevent you from working for a competitor (i.e. restraint of trade)
- prevent you from trying to entice staff and customers away from the business - often known as non-solicitation clauses.
To be enforceable the restriction has to be clear, and go no further than is necessary to protect a legitimate business interest while still protecting your right to work and use your skills.
We at Hart Brown can help you by:
- explaining the effects of a restrictive covenant particularly if you are thinking of leaving your current employment
- explaining, if you are taking up a new job, the restrictions you are being asked to agree to
- helping you negotiate changes to any new restrictions to make them less onerous
- defending claims brought by your employer alleging that you have breached your terms of employment
To speak to someone who can advise on restrictive covenants or any other employment related issue call, email or request a call back from one of our specialist lawyers.