As one of New Jersey’s largest plaintiff-side employment law firms, Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. in Hackensack frequently advises clients in New Jersey and New York on matters pertaining to restrictive covenants. Our attorneys have vast experience working with employees in senior management and executive positions who are asked to relinquish certain freedoms to protect their employer’s interests. With an understanding of how to balance the legitimate interests of employers with the rights of employees, we negotiate employment agreements and challenge unfair clauses.
A restrictive covenant is a contractual agreement between an employer and employee that prohibits the employee from engaging in specified activities during employment and for a limited time thereafter. Many employers require such agreements when they hire an employee or promote a worker to a certain level. After purchasing a business, a new employer may ask retained employees to sign these agreements as a requirement of continued employment.
There are several different types of restrictive covenants. The specific documents include:
Our attorneys review the terms of restrictive covenants and assist in the negotiation of these documents and all types of employment contracts.
While many businesses choose not to enforce restrictive covenants, they might have a legal right to do so. To be enforceable, a restrictive covenant must:
Courts decide if an agreement is reasonable and thus enforceable. Generally, discouraging competition alone is not a sufficient reason to uphold a covenant, since this prevents the public from benefiting from healthy business competition. Protecting trade secrets, confidential information and customer relationships are legitimate interests of the employer.
When considering hardship on the employee, courts review the scope of the geographic area, the subject matter and the duration covered by the agreement. Whether the employee quit or was terminated can also influence the court.
Determining if the contract is injurious to the public can require extensive investigation to see if enforcing the clause could affect the availability of goods or services or corporate research and development investments, for example.
If an employee violates the terms of a restrictive covenant, the former employer can seek an injunction and damages. Either of these remedies could seriously harm the employee. If you signed a restrictive covenant but believe it should not be enforced, it’s wise to consult a lawyer before taking action.
You may regret signing away your rights and wonder if you can challenge a restrictive covenant. These contract provisions may be invalidated on certain grounds, including if:
It may be possible to negotiate a release from a restrictive covenant. Our attorneys work vigorously in the best interests of clients and seek solutions that allow all parties to move forward satisfactorily.
The dedicated employment law attorneys and business litigators at Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. in Hackensack, New Jersey routinely advise senior-level employees on negotiating, following and challenging restrictive covenants. To schedule a confidential consultation with a member of our accomplished legal team, call 551-245-8894 or contact us online.