Report

Employment Law A to Z in IL: Restrictive Covenants & Trade Secrets

 
The best way for an employer to protect its confidential information and customer relationships is a well-drafted contract in which the employee agrees to post-employment restrictions on his or her ability to solicit the employer’s customers and exploit information learned during employment. These are referred to variously as restrictive covenants (the term used herein), “non-competes,” “covenants not to compete,” etc. The most common restrictive covenants are: non-competes, which restrict work for competitors; customer non-solicitation clauses; employee non-solicitation clauses; and prohibitions on the disclosure and/or use of confidential information.
In order to understand the law of restrictive covenants, it is helpful to keep in mind that these contracts require courts to reconcile conflicting legal policies. On the one hand, the legal system favors the freedom to contract and will enforce any contract entered into willingly by consenting adults. On the other hand, courts also generally favor free, unrestricted competition. With restrictive covenants, however, these policies collide because they are contracts in which a person agrees to restrict his or her ability to compete and earn a living. Due to these conflicting policy concerns, restrictive covenants are not ordinary contracts. Special rules apply to them. Special care needs to be taken in drafting them, administering them, and enforcing them, in order to maximize their effectiveness to the employer.

Agenda

Faculty

Jeffrey A. Risch, Esq.

Jeffrey A. Risch, Esq.

Amundsen Davis

  • Partner and co-chair of Amundsen Davis, LLC’s Labor & Employment Practice Group, Chicago, Illinois
  • Practice emphasizes all aspects of management-side labor and employment, in both employment litigation and traditional labor matters
  • Experience representing employers in federal, state, and administrative venues
  • Named to the 2010 Chicago Law Bulletin’s 40 Under 40; Best Lawyers 2015–2023; Illinois SuperLawyers 2012–2023
  • Chair, Employment Law Council – Illinois Chamber of Commerce
  • Chapter Labor Counsel – Associated Builders & Contractors of Illinois
  • Chapter Labor Counsel – Northern Illinois Building Contractors Association
  • Chapter Labor Counsel – Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois
  • Can be contacted at [email protected] or 630-587-7922

All of your training, right here at Lorman.

Pay once and get a full year of unlimited training in any format, any time!

  • Live Webinars
  • OnDemand Webinars
  • MP3 Downloads
  • Course Manuals
  • Audio Recordings*
  • Executive Reports
  • White Papers and Articles
  • Sponsored Live Webinars

Additional benefits include:

  • State Specific Credit Tracker
  • Members Only Newsletter
  • All-Access Pass Course Concierge

* For audio recordings you only pay shipping

Questions? Call 877-296-2169 to speak with a real person.

Sign Up Today
With This Course

Access to all training products $699/year

Unlimited Lorman Training

With the All-Access Pass there is no guessing what you will need for your yearly training budget. $699 will cover all of your training needs for an entire year!

Easy Registrations

Once you purchase your All-Access Pass you will never be any further than one-click away from attending any Lorman training course.

Invest in Yourself

You haven't gotten to where you are professionally by luck alone; it's taken a lot of hard work and training. Invest in yourself with the All-Access Pass.