Texas Non-Compete Agreement Law
Dallas Business Lawyer Serving North Texas
Many employers spend thousands and even tens of thousands of dollars training employees to compete in the marketplace, and in exchange have received a promise that the employee will not leave the company and go into competition with them. Unfortunately, there are employees who are not worthy of the trust businesses place in them. They flagrantly ignore their own promises not to use the training they were given against the employer who gave it to them.
When that happens, it can be critically important to have a business lawyer who knows how to stop the damage and what steps can be taken to prevent it from happening again. If you have a former employee who has violated a non-compete agreement, the Dallas business lawyers at Polewski & Associates can help.
Texas Non-Compete Agreement Law
The laws governing non-compete agreements in the state of Texas changed significantly in June 2011. The primary impact of these changes is that many non-compete agreements which were formerly deemed invalid may now be enforceable. However, the courts may choose to alter the scope and restrictions of the agreement in order to make it enforceable. Due to these important changes, it is crucial that you work with a Dallas business lawyer who has a thorough understanding of the current Texas laws governing non-compete agreements.
In general, a non-compete agreement is a contract which restricts an employee’s ability to work in direct competition with their former employer after leaving the job. The purpose of these agreements is to protect a business’s interests after it has invested considerable resources in an employee during their time of employment. These agreements are often important in jobs where employers divulge trade secrets to their employees or where an employee’s ability to draw clients away from a former employer may damage that business.
In order to be considered valid, a non-compete agreement must meet certain criteria:
- The restrictive time period covered by the agreement must be reasonable
- The geographic limits covered by the agreement must be reasonable
- The description of restricted activities must be reasonable
If these restrictions are overly broad, the non-compete agreement can be declared invalid or the courts may rule that the terms must be altered for the agreement to be enforceable.
Why You Need an Experienced Dallas Non-Compete Lawyer
Texas laws governing non-compete agreements are highly complex and always evolving. In order to make sure the agreement remains valid and enforceable, you will need the assistance of an experienced non-compete lawyer who is up-to-date on all of the latest changes to the law.
The Dallas business lawyers at Polewski & Associates have been handling non-compete agreement issues for businesses in the area for more than two decades. We have a strong understanding of Dallas and Texas Business laws, and we can help protect the best interests of your business when an employee tries to violate this agreement.
Our non-compete attorneys can help you with just about any issues you may have regarding non-compete agreements. We can craft these agreements for you to ensure they will remain enforceable once your employees move on to new jobs, and our board certified trial lawyers have the skills and experience to aggressively pursue the enforcement of these agreements through litigation if necessary.
Please contact Polewski & Associates today to schedule your initial consultation. We serve clients throughout Texas.
