Understand Your Non-Compete Agreement
Restrictive covenants are frequently drafted more broadly than applicable law permits, and their enforceability varies substantially by state. Through a flat-fee review and private consultation, an experienced employment attorney will explain what your agreement restricts, assess its enforceability, and advise you on your options.
Schedule a ConsultationWhy a review matters. The consequences of breaching an enforceable non-compete can include injunctive relief and claims for damages. Understanding your agreement’s actual scope — before signing, or before accepting a new position — allows you to plan with accurate information.
Understand Your Rights, Restrictions and Options
A non-compete or non-solicitation clause can raise important questions about what you can do next. Robert Ottinger explains how the review works and how the firm helps you understand your agreement, its enforceability, and your rights and obligations.
What the review addresses
Enforceability turns on the governing state’s law, the nature of your role, and how the agreement is drafted. Our attorneys examine each of the following areas.
Enforceability
Courts generally enforce a non-compete only to the extent it protects a legitimate business interest, such as trade secrets or client relationships. We assess whether your agreement meets that standard.
Scope, Duration & Geography
Restrictions must be reasonable in relation to your role and industry. We evaluate whether the agreement’s duration, geographic reach, and scope of restricted activity are defensible under applicable law.
Governing State Law
State law varies considerably — California and New York, for example, treat restrictive covenants very differently. We analyze the law that applies to your situation, including where you work and where you intend to go.
Permissible Limits
An agreement may not lawfully prevent you from using your general skills and experience to earn a living. We identify where your agreement may exceed what the law allows.
Related Covenants
Non-compete provisions are typically accompanied by client non-solicitation, no-hire, and confidentiality terms. The review covers these provisions as well.
Practical Risk Assessment
If you are considering a new position, we advise on your realistic exposure — what a former employer could pursue, and how that risk can be managed.
How the review proceeds
The review and consultation are provided for a single flat fee, disclosed before you engage. There is no hourly billing and no obligation beyond the review.
Schedule
Select a consultation time through our online calendar.
Submit Your Agreement
Complete the flat-fee engagement online and provide your non-compete agreement, along with any related documents such as your employment contract or confidentiality agreement.
Attorney Consultation
Your attorney reviews the agreement in advance, then meets with you privately to explain its terms, assess enforceability, and recommend a course of action.
Counsel to executives since 1999
- Founded in 1999 — we represent executives, never employers
- More than $400 million recovered for our clients
- Deep experience reviewing, negotiating, and challenging restrictive covenants in New York and California
- Recognized by Super Lawyers; members of the American Bar Association and the National Employment Lawyers Association
- Offices in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles
Arrange your non-compete review
Consultations are scheduled online. If you are weighing an offer or a departure date, please note your timeline when scheduling.
Schedule a Consultation