Whereas confidentiality agreements are typically devised in employment or personal situations to protect sensitive information, NDAs are often used in business and legal settings to protect trade secrets, client lists, and financial data.
NDAs are enforceable when they are signed — if they are properly drafted and executed. NDAs are enforceable once signed, provided they have been drafted and executed properly. Unilateral NDAs need only the signature of the receiving party, whereas mutual non-disclosure agreements need the signatures of both parties.
Confidentiality Clauses in an Agreement. In consulting, safeguarding sensitive information is paramount. Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) and confidentiality clauses in consulting agreements play crucial roles in protecting such information.
NDAs are enforceable once signed, provided they have been drafted and executed properly. Unilateral NDAs need only the signature of the receiving party, whereas mutual non-disclosure agreements need the signatures of both parties.
In New York, the confidentiality obligations are finite. Open-ended NDAs are generally not enforceable in New York. Your agreement should provide a specific time period the obligation lasts, such as during the course of employment or a short period thereafter.
The amendments expanded restrictions on the use of nondisclosure provisions (“NDAs”) in certain workplace settlement agreements. These amendments, which took effect on November 17, 2023, apply to all agreements entered into after that date.
2. The Legitimate Business Interests Test. An employer cannot enforce a non-compete agreement against an employee unless it can demonstrate a legitimate interest that needs to be protected. In most cases, the only legitimate interest that justifies the enforcement of a non-compete clause is a trade secret.
For consultants, maintaining confidentiality is both a professional obligation and a matter of legal compliance. In many cases, contracts include non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that explicitly prohibit sharing sensitive information.