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Conn Kavanaugh

It’s Confirmed: Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act Excludes Non-Solicitation Agreements

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On June 13, 2025, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) issued a significant decision in Miele v. Foundation Medicine, Inc. (SJC-13697) confirming that the Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act (the “MNAA”) does...more

Mintz - Employment Viewpoints

Top Massachusetts Court Clarifies That Non-Solicitation Covenants Fall Outside the State’s Non-Compete Law

In a closely watched decision, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in Miele v. Foundation Medicine, Inc. clarified that the Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act (MNAA) (G.L. c. 149, § 24L) does not apply to...more

Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP

Florida Legislature Increases Employer Protections Through Non-Compete Agreements

On April 24, 2025, the Florida legislature passed the Florida Contracts Honoring Opportunity, Investment, Confidentiality, and Economic Growth, or CHOICE, Act. The CHOICE Act goes into effect on July 1, 2025. The CHOICE...more

Morgan Lewis

Massachusetts High Court Clarifies Noncompete Law’s Scope, Declines to Let Nonsolicits ‘Through the Back Door’

Morgan Lewis on

In Miele v. Foundation Medicine, Inc., the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) clarified that the Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act (MNAA or the Act) does not apply to a forfeiture clause triggered by a breach...more

Holland & Knight LLP

Supreme Judicial Court Clarifies Scope of Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act

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The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) has ruled that a forfeiture clause triggered by a breach of a non-solicitation agreement is not a "forfeiture for competition agreement" under the Massachusetts Noncompetition...more

Hendershot Cowart P.C.

Are Non-Compete Agreements Banned in Texas?

Last year in April, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published a rule to ban most non-compete agreements nationwide. Within hours the rule was challenged in courts across the country, and after months of federal litigation...more

Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP

Commission Plans Should Address Salespersons' Departure

When a commissioned salesperson leaves employment, the most common dispute we encounter involves that employee’s entitlement to payment of commissions after their departure date. ...more

Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP

The Importance of Having an Up-To-Date Employment Arbitration Agreement

Until the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Viking River Cruises v. Moriana in 2022, California law had established that Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) claims could not be subject to binding arbitration....more

Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti,...

NJ Expands Wage Law to Cover Commissions – How It Compares to PA

The New Jersey Supreme Court recently ruled that commissions are considered “wages” under New Jersey’s Wage Payment Law (“NJWPL”). This decision—which allows employees whose commissions are not timely paid to recover 200% of...more

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

An Important Win for Employers in California: Meal Period Waivers

For over a decade, many California employers have issued written meal period waivers that permit employees to voluntarily agree to prospectively waive 30-minute meal periods throughout their employment and under certain...more

Payne & Fears

Prospective Written Meal Period Waivers Can Be Enforced in California Says the California Court of Appeal

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Employers in California often offer employees the ability to sign “meal period waivers,” usually at onboarding. These written waivers reflect the employee’s agreement, on a going-forward basis, to waive their first meal...more

Wiley Rein LLP

Fifth Circuit Holds Carve-Back Provision Could Not Overcome Breach of Contract Exclusion for Louisiana Wage Payment Act Claim

Wiley Rein LLP on

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, applying Louisiana law, has held that a breach of contract exclusion barred coverage for a judgment awarded to two employees who were not paid severance as required...more

Foley & Lardner LLP

Noncompetes in Flux: What Else Can Employers Do to Protect Themselves?

Foley & Lardner LLP on

As we continue to report, noncompete agreements have been subject to unprecedented scrutiny over the past few years. Last April, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) finalized a rule (“Final Rule”) ostensibly banning...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

Feeling Competitive: The Reasonableness of Forfeiture-for-Competition Provisions

Troutman Pepper Locke on

In 2024, employers rushed to track the twists and turns of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) noncompete ban, which attempted to limit the enforceability of agreements that restrict employees from working for a competitor...more

Marshall Dennehey

A Double Take: Workers’ Compensation Liens Render UIM Non-Duplication Clauses Unenforceable

Marshall Dennehey on

Key Points: Delaware Superior Court permits injured plaintiffs-employees to board medical bills and lost wages already paid by the workers’ compensation carrier in subsequent UIM claim related to the same incident, despite a...more

FordHarrison

"In Any Capacity" Language Dooms Georgia Non-Compete Provision

FordHarrison on

Prior to the enactment of Georgia’s Restrictive Covenant Act (“GRCA”), Georgia courts uniformly struck down non-compete provisions that used “in any capacity language”, i.e., a non-compete that prohibited an employee from...more

Holland & Hart - Employers' Lawyers

Wyoming Legislature Takes a Bite Out of Covenants Not to Compete

Brad Cave by Brad Cave Governor Gordon signed a bill this week to significantly narrow the enforceability of covenants not to compete under Wyoming law.  While the new law leaves Wyoming businesses with a few options to...more

Epstein Becker & Green

Massachusetts High Court To Weigh In on Forfeiture-for-Solicitation Provisions in Era of Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement...

Epstein Becker & Green on

On Monday, March 3, 2025, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) heard argument in Miele v. Foundation Medicine, Inc., regarding whether the Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act, G. L. c. 149, § 24L (the...more

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

New York Legislature’s Proposed Amendments Would Impact Employment Agreements

Two bills recently introduced in New York’s legislature could have a major impact on New York employers seeking to enter into employment-related agreements with employees. Invalidating “Unconscionable” Contract Terms - ...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

New York’s Proposed Employment Contract Reforms: What Employers Need to Know

If two bills recently introduced in the New York State Legislature become law, employers across the state could face new restrictions on including certain common provisions in their employment-related agreements....more

Littler

The Sixth Circuit Rules on Arbitration Clause Enforcement

Littler on

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has ruled that an arbitration provision in a plaintiff’s employment contract is binding and enforceable, even if the employer did not explain the provision or recommend the...more

Bennett Jones LLP

Employment Termination Clauses: Lessons From Singh v Clark Builders

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In a recent decision, the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta upheld a freely negotiated termination clause with a sophisticated employee despite evolution to the employee’s role over the term of employment. The employee’s...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

New York Federal Court Ruling Highlights a Potential Pitfall in Settlement Agreement Enforcement

On January 8, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York held that an employee’s refusal to sign a confidentiality and nondisparagement acknowledgment form annexed to a settlement agreement resolving...more

Proskauer - Trade Secrets

Seventh Circuit Decision Highlights Distinction Between Traditional Non-Compete and Forfeiture-for-Competition

A recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit allowed an employer to enforce a “forfeiture-for-competition” against a former plant manager. The Court explained that, under Delaware law, forfeiture-for...more

Hendershot Cowart P.C.

Legal Alternatives to Breaking a Non-Compete Agreement in Texas

Hendershot Cowart P.C. on

Many employees feel trapped by non-compete agreements, but there are legal ways to handle these restrictive employment agreements. Before risking legal action by breaking your agreement, consider these alternatives....more

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