Understanding and Enforcing Restrictive Covenants in Northern New Jersey
In today's marketplace, trade secrets, proprietary information, customer lists and other business data represent a large share of a company's value. For many businesses, proprietary information can be vulnerable to misappropriation and abuse by current and former employees. To learn how your company can protect and enforce its interests in confidential information through the proper use of restrictive covenants, confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements, contact the Law Office of Michele L. Ross, LLC, in Englewood Cliffs
New Jersey Nondisclosure Contract Lawyer: Call 201-568-2064
A restrictive covenant is the generic term for any of several contract clauses or freestanding agreements that limit the activity or use of information by someone who has been employed or has done business with someone else. Most restrictive covenants are imposed by an employer or principal at the formation of an employment or agency relationship in order to prevent someone from competing and misusing proprietary information at the end of the relationship. Restrictive covenants are also used to control the use of information that is shared for a specific purpose, such as a prospective business purchaser's due diligence.
While contracts concerning such matters as trade secret protection, confidential business data, customer or client lists, price lists or proprietary software are typically based on the owner's property rights in the material to be restricted, noncompete agreements often arise more specifically out of direct or indirect employment relationships.
Restricting a Former Employee's Ability to Compete With Your Business
The point of a noncompete agreement is to keep a former employee from working in direct competition with his or her former employer, especially immediately after separation. Because of the impact this commitment can mean for the former employee's livelihood, particularly in specialized fields, a contract restricting the right of working for competitors should be narrowly drawn, limited in time, and depending on the market, subject to geographic restrictions.
Bergen County noncompete agreement attorney Michele L. Ross, Esq. has considerable experience drafting employment agreements and restrictive covenants in a wide variety of occupational and professional settings, and can advise employers about the best ways to approach these issues in particular situations. Ms. Ross can negotiate, review, draft or enforce noncompete agreements, confidentiality contracts and similar instruments in terms closely matched to the unique characteristics and requirements of your business.
For further information about the proper use of restrictive covenants in your employment, consulting or third-party workforce relationships, contact the Law Office of Michele L. Ross, LLC, in Englewood Cliffs.
