Orlando Non-Compete Agreement Lawyers
Non-compete agreements are contracts where an employee promises not to compete with the company by starting their own business in competition with the company or work for a competitor’s company for a specified time for a specific geographical area (scope). For business owners, non-compete agreements can protect a company’s trade secrets and competitive advantage. With a non-compete agreement in place, talent can be less readily poached by competing companies. Additionally, a non-compete agreement protects a company from losing business if an employee decides to use the skills they gained while working at the company to start their own business. For a non-compete agreement to be enforceable, it must be reasonable in time and scope. This means that it must only be binding for a limited amount of time and can only be binding for a specific region. If you are considering using non-compete agreements with your employees, consider speaking to Legal Counsel, P.A. which employs non-compete agreement attorneys in Orlando, Florida.
Employees are increasingly asked to sign non-compete agreements. As a new hire, these agreements may not be as beneficial to your interests. You may not be able to take another job in your field if you are offered a more attractive offer and you may be limited in terms of your ability to start your own business, should you ever want to take that path. Before you sign a non-compete agreement, you may want to have the agreement reviewed by a competent lawyer. The non-compete agreement lawyers at Legal Counsel, P.A. in Orlando, Florida can review your agreement and help you understand your rights and responsibilities before you take the job. Have questions? We have answers. Contact Legal Counsel, P.A. today at 407-982-4321.
What Must Be Included in a Non-Compete Agreement?
Not all non-compete agreements are enforceable. A non-compete agreement protects your business interests by preventing an employee from working in a similar field or from starting a business in your field for a specific period of time and for a specific region. Generally, in order for a non-compete agreement to be enforceable, it must include a specified period of time it is in effect. The non-compete agreement must also be reasonable in terms of the region where a worker is not permitted to compete. You cannot create a non-compete agreement that prevents an employee from working in his or her field indefinitely and everywhere. The non-compete agreement must be reasonable in both time and scope.
Essentially, your non-compete agreement should specify when the agreement goes into effect and how long it will remain in effect should the employee stop working for the employer. A non-compete agreement will often include a reason why the parties are entering into the contract. For example, you may not want your employee poaching your clients or you may not want your employee to work for a competitor and reveal your company’s trade secrets and business practices in the process.
Not all states honor non-compete agreements and some agreements are more readily accepted by courts than others. It is therefore wise to speak to one of our qualified Orlando non-compete agreement lawyers at Legal Counsel, P.A. to understand the limitations and enforceability of these agreements. Even in cases where non-compete agreements are not valid companies might include non-compete clauses in their employment contracts to deter their workers from starting competing businesses or working for competitors. Have questions? We have answers. Contact Legal Counsel, P.A. today at 407-982-4321.
Are You Being Asked to Sign a Non-Compete Agreement Before Getting a New Job?
If you recently got hired, congrats! In the process of onboarding, you may be asked to sign many contracts with your employer. It is important to understand what these contracts mean because they can have a major impact on your future career and business prospects, and they can even impact your ability to negotiate a higher salary. For example, if you are being asked to sign a non-compete agreement, this can limit your ability to work elsewhere in your field for a specified time. If you want to work for a competitor’s company, you may have to move to another location entirely in order to honor the provisions of a non-compete clause. Furthermore, if you ever plan to start your own company which competes with your employer, you should also consider that a non-compete agreement may limit your ability to start your own business for a period of time after you stop working, or it may require you to move to another location to start a new business. Before signing a non-compete agreement, you may want to speak to one of our qualified Orlando non-compete agreement attorneys at Legal Counsel, P.A. Our attorney can review your non-compete agreement, determine if it is reasonable, and help you understand your rights and responsibilities. Some non-compete agreements are written in a manner that would make them unenforceable in court. Other agreements would not be valid because they are not permitted in your state. However, if your non-compete agreement is reasonable and valid, an attorney can help you understand what this means for your career so that you can either negotiate for better terms or ask for a severance package that will protect you for the period of time you are not permitted to work. In some cases, employees can use a non-compete agreement to secure better employment terms. Have questions? We have answers. Contact Legal Counsel, P.A. today at 407-982-4321.
