Santa Clara Non-Compete Agreement

Find the right Non-Compete Agreement attorney in Santa Clara, CA

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Usually, a covenant not to compete is when a California employee agrees not to work for an employer's competitors when the employee leaves the company. Covenants not to compete are also known as "non-compete clauses". An employee who signs them either does so as a condition to employment or they may receive compensation for the agreement.

When are Covenants not to Compete Unenforceable?

It is difficult to discern whether a judge will enforce a given non-compete agreement. Even though the interests of an employer are important, California courts value a person's freedom to select the type of employment that they desire. Thus, courts will typically uphold only those covenants not to compete that they conclude to be reasonable. Covenants not to compete that a court will categorize as unreasonable include provisions that last for a long duration or that restrict the employee to an unreasonable geographic area around Santa Clara.

Non-compete clauses are also limited in that they can only apply to competitors who are reasonably related to the industry of the employer. Lastly, the employer must have a valid business interest behind its motivation for mandating a covenant not to compete.

Do I Need an Attorney when Dealing with a Covenant not to Compete?

Since covenants could restrict your rights, you may wish to hire a Santa Clara, California lawyer to review any provisions. They will be able to negotiate further changes to the covenant, and can draft an entirely new one that is acceptable to all parties if needed. A lawyer can also render useful advice for employers who are considering suing an employee for breach of covenant, or they can counsel employees who have signed such an agreement.

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Life in Santa Clara

Santa Clara, California is located in Santa Clara County in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Many advanced technology and semi-conductor companies are headquartered in the city, including Intel, McAfee, Applied Materials, and Agilent Technologies. Sun Microsystems and Oracle are also major employers in the area. The city of Santa Clara owns and operates its own electric utility facility called Silicon Valley Power. As a result, electricity rates are considerably cheaper in Santa Clara.

Aside from its central role in the Silicon Valley semiconductor boom, Santa Clara, California is home to a diverse array of facilities. Buck Shaw Stadium is located in the city, and is home to the Major League Soccer team the San Jose Earthquakes. The San Francisco 49ers holds practices in Santa Clara and is also headquartered there. Great America, a popular amusement park in the Bay Area, is also located in Santa Clara. The city also hosts a number of outdoor events such as the Art Wine Festival in September and Concerts in the Park.

Santa Clara is a major city for lawyers and attorneys, as the Santa Clara County Courthouse maintains a branch in the city. Many lawyers in Santa Clara, California received their legal education at Santa Clara School of Law. Santa Clara lawyers are available to assist clients in a diverse range of legal fields.

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