California Corporate & Securities Law

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

California, unlike other states, takes an absolutist view of covenants not to compete. Section 16600 of the Business and Professions Code declares, with certain exceptions, "every contract by which anyone is restrained from engaging in a lawful...