Most New York courts will not enforce a non-compete agreement if the restriction is for over a year. For example, courts will generally find this time frame too long if the agreement attempts to restrict an employee for two years or more.
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.
An employee can challenge a restrictive covenant if they believe it is unreasonable or prevents them from finding suitable employment. If the covenant is too broad or not essential to protecting the employer's business, it may be deemed unenforceable by the courts.
Although New York State lawmakers passed a non-compete ban in 2023, Gov. Hochul vetoed the bill primarily because she wanted to see exceptions allowing non-competes in connection with the sale of a business and for high-income earners that have more negotiating power.
A bill introduced in the New York State Senate on Feb. 10, 2025, would prohibit nearly all non-compete agreements arising in employment. Consistent with a national trend, non-competes for healthcare professionals would be banned.
Take a non-competitive job or role outside your current employer's specialty. Prove your employer breached the contract to invalidate the non-compete clause. Argue that the non-compete is overly restrictive or not enforceable. Negotiate or prove no legitimate business interests exist to uphold the agreement.
Yes, the general rule in NY is that lawyers can't be held to a non-compete. But the Court of Appeals has acknowledged a rare exception to that rule.
Over time, Brazilian Courts have come to the understanding that non-compete clauses are enforceable provided that they meet four specific criteria: (i) a reasonable time limit; (ii) a geographical limit only to the market in which the employee has worked at or was involved in projects related to; (iii) specific post- ...
Non-Competitive Activity at New Employer: One of the most straightforward ways to overcome a noncompete is by ensuring that your new role with a different employer is in a non-competitive capacity. If you're not engaging in activities that directly compete with your former employer's business, you may be in the clear.