Dallas Business Law Attorneys Assisting With Non-Compete Agreements
Non-compete agreements prohibit an employee or independent contractor from working for a competitor for a specific time period after their current employment ends. The purpose of such arrangements is to prevent a competitor from accessing sensitive information of the company and to protect the company’s investment into the employee from being “poached” by a competitor. These types of guarantees can be important in high competition industries, such as in technology companies, software development, and manufacturing. Because such provisions limit the rights of employees and contractors, they must be carefully drafted to be enforceable under Texas law. Given that Dallas is a bed of activity for today’s thriving businesses, such agreements can be crucial. If, however, a non-compete agreement is not prepared properly it will be held invalid and you may watch your competitor benefit. Our Dallas business law attorneys assist with both generating and enforcing non-compete agreements within our state. Call today for an initial consultation.
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Lawyers assisting Dallas businesses with the creation of non-competition agreements
There are several reasons why an employer may want a non-competition or non-solicitation agreement from employees and contractors. Some of these reasons include:
- A company may provide high quality and unique training and not want employees to take their acquired skills elsewhere
- A company may wish to prohibit a former employee from poaching customers
- A company may wish to prohibit the poaching of employees
- A company may wish to protect its methods, processes, and other secrets
Particularly in high-growth industries, such as technology or energy firms, such agreements can be a necessary part of doing business. Some companies only require employees or contractors with certain job functions, such as sales, design, or company executive leadership to sign non-competition agreements. It might be unreasonable, for instance, to require a mail clerk or administrative employee to sign such a restriction. Texas courts will uphold a non-competition agreement provided the interests which an employer seeks to protect are reasonably related to the agreement and the restrictions are reasonable. Important factors in this analysis include the geographic scope of the restriction, the length of the non-compete, and the definition of a competitor. Hiring an attorney who can properly draft such an agreement can make the difference between the agreement being upheld or being invalidated by a Texas court.
Our Dallas lawyers assist businesses in the DFW Metro area with preparing non-compete agreements. At your initial consultation we will discuss the reasons for needing the agreement and will help you consider other possibilities which you may not have considered. We take a team-based approach to solving problems and will work to ensure you have all the necessary protections to protect your financial well-being. We make the law our business so you can focus on the important thing – running your business. The attorneys at The Johnson Firm also service Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Denton, Fort Worth, Garland, Irving, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Nacogdoches, Lufkin, and Center, Texas. Contact us today.
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Business law attorneys aggressively enforcing Texas non-compete agreements on behalf of businesses
It is not enough to have restrictive covenants in place if your former employees or contractors disregard them. Our lawyers will aggressively enforce non-compete, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements when violated by your former employees. Once retained, we will immediately send a cease and desist letter with a demand for payment of any damages incurred. Should the activity continue in violation of the restrictions, then we will file an appropriate lawsuit in state or federal court and seek injunctive relief. We will also bring an appropriate claim against other companies, if appropriate, for claims of civil conspiracy and tortious interference with contractual relations.
Our attorneys will stay in regular contact with you throughout the process. We promptly respond to emails and telephone calls. We make ourselves accessible when you have questions and take pride in the level of service we provide. Contact us today.