Businesses routinely utilize non-compete agreements to prevent their employees from leaving and engaging in business activity that would directly compete with the business. For instance, a doctor may sign a non-compete agreement stating that if he leaves a medical practice, he will not establish a competing practice within a certain geographical location for a certain time period. The purpose of the non-compete agreement is to prevent unfair competition for the same services and products, and to prevent former employees from using a business’s secrets or trade practices to directly compete with it.

The issue is whether the non-compete agreement is only as broad as necessary to protect the employer’s legitimate business interest. Thus, if it is sufficiently narrow by protecting only that legitimate business interest, an Arizona court is likely to enforce it. But if the agreement is unreasonably broad by preventing more than the employer’s legitimate business interest, the court is unlikely to enforce it. Ergo, the two big questions are: (i) what business interest is the employer trying to protect; and (ii) is the non-compete provision narrowly tailored to protect that interest?

For example, an employer has a legitimate business interest in preventing a former employer from using the company’s trade secrets or other confidential information to solicit customers—whether that is the employer’s “secret sauce,” a confidential written list of or about its customers and suppliers, or something else. If the non-compete is written to prevent the former employee from using that information against the former employer, it will likely be enforceable. But if the former employee simply wants to work in the same industry, even for a competitor, but is not using the former employer’s confidential information or otherwise competing unfairly, a court might not enforce the non-compete provision. Courts will look at many factors to answer these questions, particularly the scope of the restriction. That is, an enforceable non-compete agreement must be reasonable as to the scope of activities prevented, the geographic limitation, and time period, in light of the industry involved. Indeed, what is reasonable for a non-compete agreement’s geographic location and duration in one industry may not be reasonable at all in another type of industry. The interest that a business is seeking to protect must necessitate the restrictions in the agreement.

When you are facing a dispute over a non-compete agreement, you need an experienced Arizona business attorney who can advocate on your behalf from the outset of your case. We are here to examine the facts concerning your case, consider your options, and build the strongest case possible. Contact Mestaz Law at (602) 806-2068 today, and set up an appointment to speak with us about your case.