California Asymmetrical Approach To Non-Competes

One unintended consequence of California's voiding of many non-compete agreements is that it puts California employers at a disadvantage with respect to employee recruitment.  Employers in other states are free to hire away employees in California...

Copenhagen Counsel Causes Choice Of Delaware Law

In 2019, Floss Bar, Inc. hired Joshua Perry as its president.  Floss Bar is a Delaware corporation that is headquartered in New York.  The agreements were negotiated by Perry's lawyer in Copenhagen and included a Delaware choice of law.  After a...

Section 16600 Wipes Out Invention Assignment

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Broad Confidentiality Restriction Void As Illegal Non-Compete Provision

Section 16600 of the California Business & Professions Code declares "every contract" that restrains "anyone . . . from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind is to that extent void".  There are only three statutory...

California Supreme Court Applies "Rule of Reason" To Section 16600 Claim

Section 16600 of the California Business & Professions Code provides that except for certain statutory exceptions "every contract by which anyone is restrained from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind is to that extent...

Court Holds That An Employer May Rely On Employee's Promise Not To Compete

In Edwards v. Arthur Andersen LLP, 44 Cal. 4th 937 (2008), the California Supreme Court held that covenants not to compete were "invalid under section 16600 in California, even if narrowly drawn, unless they fall within the applicable statutory...

Mirabile Dictu! Court Finds No Per Se Application Of Non-Compete Ban

California Business & Professions Code Section 16600 declares void "every contract by which anyone is restrained from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind".  The California Supreme Court famously held that non-compete...

Court Of Appeal Upholds Injunction Restraining Enforcement Of Non-Solicitation Agreement

California Business & Professions Code Section 16600 is particularly tough on covenants not to compete declaring, with certain exceptions, "every contract by which anyone is restrained from engaging in a lawful profession trade, or business of any...

Nevada Supreme Court Addresses Nationwide Non-Compete

Given California's hostility to non-compete agreements, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that other states don't have the same attitude.  In neighboring Nevada, the courts will look to whether the restraint on competition in reasonable.  A...

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