What Is A Covenant Not To Compete In Ohio?
Generally speaking, in Ohio, a covenant not to compete means that the employee will agree not to work for any of their employer's competitors upon leaving the company. Such agreements are also known by the term "non-compete clauses". Compensation may be paid for employees who sign the covenant, or at times the employment may be conditioned upon such an agreement.
When are Covenants not to Compete Unenforceable?
Whether a given judge will enforce a non-compete agreement is difficult to know in advance. While employer's interest are significant, the courts of Ohio also put a high level of importance on a person's ability to pursue their desired employment opportunities. Consequently, a court will generally only uphold non-compete clauses which under the circumstances are considered to be reasonable. A court will usually hold non-compete clauses to be unreasonable if they involve unusually long periods of time or if they cover a geographic region surrounding Columbus that is excessively large.
Covenants must also be limited to restricting dealings with those competitors that are rationally related to the employer?s industry. Finally, the covenant not to compete must have a legitimate business purpose which is behind the employer's motivation for requiring the agreement.
Do I Need an Attorney when Dealing with a Covenant not to Compete?
You may want to hire a Columbus, Ohio lawyer to review the covenant before signing any agreements that may limit or restrict your rights. The lawyer will then be able to negotiate any modifications to the contract as needed, or they can even draft a new one should it be required by one or both parties. When it comes to suing an employee for breach of a non-compete clause, an attorney can give valuable advice. They will also be able to counsel employees who need advice for a covenant they have signed.
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Life in Columbus
Columbus is the largest city in the State of Ohio. It's also the Ohio State Capital and seat of Franklin County government. Consequently, you're going to find nearly every kind of case in the area should be filed with Ohio State or Franklin County Courts in Columbus. Columbus lawyers are familiar with local court cases like personal injury, divorce, and criminal cases while many others focus on Federal cases link bankruptcy and U.S. Immigration Court cases.It's not only lawyers and politicians in Columbus; this #1 up-coming tech city was also named Business Week's best place to raise a family in the United States. But the singles scene is Columbus is renown as well. Men's Health Magazine ranked Columbus as the second most sexually satisfied city in the United States and Marie Claire Magazine declared it the 18th best place for a woman to find a good date.
Business is the major propellant behind Columbus' popularity. Five Fortune 500 companies call Columbus home: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, American Electric Power, Limited Brands, Big Lots, and Momentive Specialty Chemicals. Columbus is consistently named one of the top 10 U.S. cities in which to conduct business. In 2009 alone, Columbus metropolitan businesses profited over $90 billion. The diverse Columbus economy offers everything from education, banking, energy, defense, and research to logistics, medical, steel, technology, and hospitality. No matter what you business may be, it seems Columbus is the place to go.
USA Travel Guide named the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium the best in the United States adding to the popularity of Columbus as a tourist destination. Top-notch public transportation connecting Columbus' various universities and colleges to the neighborhoods and city attractions. The Ohio Judicial Center is an outstanding of Art Deco style architecture while the Wexner Center and Nationwide Plaza designed by Peter Eisenman offer a contemporary charm all their own.
