Articles Posted in Non-Compete Agreement / Covenant Not to Compete

The scenario we see: An employee resigns, lands a new role, and—right on cue—the former employer calls the new company or key clients, waving a non‑solicit or a boilerplate non‑compete that’s far broader than Illinois law allows. If that pressure campaign derails a known offer or triggers a firing, our firm files suit for tortious interference and seeks court orders to stop the meddling.

Illinois law gives you real defenses (and offenses):

• Reasonableness + legitimate interest. Illinois enforces restraints only to the extent necessary to protect legitimate interests (e.g., near‑permanent customer relationships or genuine confidential information). Courts look at the totality of facts—not rigid formulas.

• Non‑solicits must be narrowly tailored. Clauses that bar you from soliciting any customer—including those you never worked with—or that lack geographic or relationship limits are often invalid. Courts have declined to salvage them when they’re fundamentally unfair.

• Income thresholds & notice rules matter. For agreements after Jan. 1, 2022, non‑competes are void for employees under $75,000 (rising over time) and non‑solicits are void under $45,000 (also rising). Employers must give 14 days to review and advise in writing to consult a lawyer—or the covenant is illegal and void.

• Consideration is not a rubber stamp. Courts have rejected restraints supported by little more than a signature; the Fifield line of cases and the statute make clear that two years of employment or meaningful additional benefits are needed.

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Some employers weaponize non‑competes—sending threat letters to your new employer or recruiter until your offer evaporates. When that happens, our firm doesn’t just play defense. We file a declaratory‑judgment action to invalidate the restraint and bring tortious‑interference claims for money, stress and punitive damages against the former employer for intentionally and unjustifiably getting you fired, scaring off or interfering with you accept9ing a known offer.

Why this works (in Illinois):

• Non‑competes are enforceable only if they’re reasonable and protect a legitimate business interest (and even then, only within tight limits on time, territory, and scope). Illinois’ Supreme Court calls this a totality‑of‑the‑circumstances test. Illinois Courts

• Adequate consideration is required. Illinois courts have long questioned “sign it or lose your job” covenants; absent additional value, two years of continued employment has often been the benchmark. The Illinois Freedom to Work Act now codifies that adequate consideration can be two years or other real professional/financial benefits. Illinois Courts+1

• “Any capacity” bans are usually dead on arrival. A clause barring an employee from working for a “competitor in any capacity” was struck as overbroad and unfixable. If a restraint prevents you from taking even a non‑competitive role, a court is likely to toss it. Bankruptcy Litigation

• Overreaching non‑solicits also fail. Provisions that bar contact with every customer (including ones you never touched) are commonly invalid—and courts sometimes refuse to “blue‑pencil” them. Illinois Courts

Our playbook when an offer is pulled because of a non‑compete:

1. Fast merits review & demand. We analyze the covenant against Reliable Fire’s reasonableness factors and statutory requirements (notice/attorney‑consult advisories; income thresholds), then send a tailored letter explaining why the restraint is void. Illinois Courts+1

2. Injunction + declaratory judgment. We seek a court order declaring the provision unenforceable and stopping further interference. Where appropriate, we also move for emergency relief. Illinois General Assembly

3. Tortious‑interference claims. Under Illinois law, interference with at‑will employment is actionable when a third party intentionally and unjustifiably induces a termination or rescission. There are privileges for good‑faith competition, but they fall away when the actor overstates rights or acts with malice. Justia Law+1

4. Fee‑shift leverage. If the employer sues on the covenant and loses, the Act lets a prevailing employee recover attorney’s fees and costs—another reason judges scrutinize shaky restraints. Illinois General Assembly

A recent (anonymized) illustration from our files
A senior operations professional accepted a role with a national company. Within days, the former employer sent a “cease‑and‑desist” citing a non‑compete that banned work for any competitor “in any capacity.” The new employer panicked and withdrew the offer. We immediately threatened filed for a declaration that the restraint was void and to bring a tortious‑interference claim for large damages. The overbreadth (“any capacity”) and lack of adequate consideration drove a swift resolution that restored our client’s career path and secured damages as part of a settlement. Continue reading ›

It is well settled that “Illinois courts abhor restraints on trade” and therefore “postemployment restrictive covenants are carefully scrutinized . . . because they operate as partial restrictions on trade.” McInnis v. OAG Motorcycle Ventures, Inc., 2015 IL App (1st) 142644 at ¶26; see also Medix Staffing Sols., Inc. v. Dumrauf, 17 C 6648, 2018 WL 1859039, at *2 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 17, 2018) (granting motion to dismiss and noting that “[u]nder Illinois law, covenants not to compete are disfavored and held to a high standard”); Grand Vehicle Works Holdings Corp. v. Frey, 03 C 7948, 2005 WL 1139312, at *6 (N.D. Ill. May 11, 2005) (“Illinois courts disfavor and closely scrutinize restrictive covenants because they are repugnant to the public policy encouraging an open and competitive marketplace”); Cambridge Eng’g., Inc. v. Mercury Partners 90 BI, Inc., 378 Ill.App.3d 437, 447 (1^st Dist 2007) (refusing to enforce restrictive covenant).

For a restrictive covenant to be enforceable, the terms must be “reasonable and necessary to protect a legitimate business interest of the employer.”  Medix Staffing Sols., Inc. 2018 WL 1859039, at *2. Thus, a restrictive covenant is reasonable only if it: “(1) is no greater than is required for the protection of a legitimate business interest of the employer-promisee; (2) does not impose undue hardship on the employee-promisor, and (3) is not injurious to the public.” Reliable Fire Equip. Co. v. Arredondo, 2011 IL 111871, ¶ 17. “The employer seeking to enforce a restrictive covenant bears the burden of demonstrating that the full extent of the restraint is necessary for protecting its interests.” Cambridge Eng’g., Inc., 378 Ill.App.3d at 447. The employer must also establish a protectable interest in its customers by showing for example that it has near-permanent relationships with certain customers based upon the employer’s relationship with the customers. Giffney Perret, Inc, 2009 WL 792484, at *11. Here, the non-solicitation agreement fails to meet that standard and ITsavvy will not be able to meet its steep burden of proof.

A restrictive covenant that precludes an employee from solicting or selling to any of his former employer’s customers anywhere, with no geographic scope and no limitation based upon whether the customer did business with an employee or was a long-term customer of the employee before he or she began working for the employer is generally unenforceable in Illinois, unless the employee had contact with and/or worked with all or nearly all the employer’s customers.

An employer cannot demonstrate any valid basis for preventing an employee from soliciting customers with whom he or she never worked.  See AssuredPartners, Inc. v. Schmitt, 2015 IL App (1st) 141863, ¶ 42 (non-solicitation provision invalid where it went beyond protecting those customer relationships that employee developed while working for an employer); Cambridge Eng’g., Inc., 378 Ill.App.3d at 455 (same); Lawrence & Allen v. Cambridge Human Resources Group, 292 Ill.App.3d 131, 138 (2d Dist. 1997) (“[c]ourts are hesitant to enforce prohibitions against employees servicing not only customers with whom they had direct contact, but also customers they never solicited or had contact with while employed by plaintiff”); Trailer Leasing Co. v. Associates Commercial Corp., 96 C 2305, 1996 WL 392135, at *3 (N.D. Ill. July 10, 1996)) (holding customer non-solicitation provision unenforceable where it includes customers with whom employee had no contact). Continue reading ›

In a dynamic world where the nature of work is evolving rapidly, the Illinois Freedom to Work Act stands as a beacon of hope for both employees and employers alike. This legislation, enacted in 2017, brought about significant changes in Illinois’ labor laws, fostering a more flexible and worker-friendly environment. In this blog post, we will delve into the key provisions of the Illinois Freedom to Work Act and explore how it has reshaped the employment landscape in the state.

Understanding the Illinois Freedom to Work Act

The Illinois Freedom to Work Act is a landmark piece of legislation designed to empower workers and enhance economic freedom. It eliminates the use of non-compete agreements for low-wage employees, providing them with the opportunity to seek employment without restrictions after leaving a job. The act was signed into law by then-Governor Bruce Rauner and has since created a more level playing field for employees in Illinois.

Key Provisions of the Act

1. Non-Compete Agreements Limited: One of the primary aims of the Illinois Freedom to Work Act is to restrict the use of non-compete agreements for low-wage employees. This means that workers in lower-income positions are no longer bound by these restrictive covenants that prevented them from pursuing similar roles in the same industry after leaving their current job.
2. Minimum Wage Threshold: To be considered a low-wage employee under the act, the individual’s earnings must not exceed the greater of either the applicable federal, state, or local minimum wage. This ensures that the legislation targets those who are most vulnerable to exploitation in the labor market.
3. You must be given 14 days to review the agreement and told you have an opportunity for lawyer to review of the agreement.
4. Protecting Employee Rights: The Act empowers workers by allowing them to challenge non-compete agreements in court. If an employer enforces an invalid non-compete agreement against a low-wage employee, the employee can seek legal remedies, including injunctive relief and damages.

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Non-compete agreements, often called restrictive covenants, are common legal tools used by employers to protect their business interests. In the state of Illinois, these agreements are subject to specific rules and regulations that both employers and employees should understand. This blog post will provide an overview of non-compete agreements in Illinois, including their purpose, enforceability, and key considerations.

Purpose of Non-Compete Agreements

Non-compete agreements serve as legal contracts between employers and employees. The primary purpose of these agreements is to protect the employer’s legitimate business interests. These interests may include safeguarding trade secrets, customer relationships, and preventing unfair competition. Non-competes are typically used in industries where employees have access to sensitive information and trade secrets, such as technology, healthcare, and finance.

Enforceability in Illinois

Illinois, like many states, has specific laws and regulations regarding non-compete agreements to balance the interests of both employers and employees. In general, for a non-compete agreement to be enforceable in Illinois, it must meet the following criteria:

1. Legitimate Business Interest: The non-compete must protect a legitimate business interest, such as confidential information, trade secrets, customer relationships, or specialized training.
2. Reasonable Scope: The agreement’s restrictions must be reasonable in terms of geographic scope, duration, and the nature of the activities restricted. Overly broad restrictions may be deemed unenforceable.
3. Adequate Consideration: The employee must receive adequate consideration in exchange for signing the agreement. This can include a job offer, a raise, or other benefits.
4. Public Policy: The agreement must not violate public policy or statutory law. For example, non-competes cannot prevent employees from pursuing their livelihood or career.
5. Special Provisions for Low-Wage Employees: Illinois law contains special provisions that limit the use of non-compete agreements for low-wage employees, making it more difficult for employers to enforce them in these cases.

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Non-compete agreements are a common tool used by employers to protect their business interests. However, these agreements must strike a balance between safeguarding legitimate business concerns and respecting an employee’s right to pursue their career. Over the years, Illinois courts have issued several crucial decisions that provide guidance on the enforceability of non-compete agreements. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of these key Illinois court decisions and their implications for both employers and employees.

Recent Illinois decisions on non-compete agreements have clarified several important points:

1) Non-compete agreements under Illinois law are only enforceable if they protect a party’s legitimate business interests, as determined from the totality of the circumstances. This includes the near-permanence of customer relationships, the employee’s acquisition of confidential information through their employment, and time and place restrictions. Illinois law requires that in order be enforceable, a covenant not to compete must secure a “protectable interest” of the employer. Illinois courts recognize at least two such protectable interests: (1) where the customer relationships are near-permanent and but for the employee’s association with the employer the employee would not have had contact with the customers; and (2) where the former employee acquired trade secrets or other confidential information through his employment and subsequently tried to use it for his own benefit.

2) Non-compete provisions in employment agreements, which restricted distributor’s employees from engaging in post-employment activities of soliciting or inducing other employees to leave distributor’s employment, were found invalid restraints on trade, in that, provisions did not serve to protect any legitimate business interest recognized under Illinois law.

3) Non-compete clauses in employment agreements are unenforceable when they (1) impose restrictions greater than those necessary to protect legitimate interests of the protected party, (2) are oppressive to the restricted party, or (3) are harmful to the general public. Such was the case in Mickey’s Linen v. Fischer where Illinois decisions supported modifying a non-solicitation provision to cover only those customers for which the former employee had responsibility, and that the severability provision in Fischer’s Employment Agreement makes that result particularly appropriate.

4) In Unisource Worldwide, Inc. v. Carrara, the court ruled that where an employment contract is ambiguous and unintelligible, the non-compete clause in the agreement is unenforceable because there is no definite agreement on the essential terms of the restrictive covenant.

5) Lastly, in Vencor, Inc. v. Webb, the court found that a non-competition agreement is not contrary to the fundamental public policy of the state of Illinois, and thus Illinois law must govern this dispute. Here, both parties elected to have the agreement governed by Kentucky law, and the court discerned no reason why an Illinois court would find the agreement to be contrary to Illinois public policy.

Conclusion

Illinois court decisions on non-compete agreements have evolved to strike a balance between safeguarding legitimate business interests and protecting the rights of employees. Employers must carefully craft non-compete agreements that are reasonable in terms of duration, geographic scope, and the scope of activities restricted. Adequate consideration is a crucial factor, especially when entering into non-compete agreements with at-will employees.

For employees, understanding the enforceability of non-compete agreements and their rights is essential. Consulting with legal counsel is advisable when faced with the prospect of signing a non-compete agreement or when challenging the enforceability of an existing agreement.

These court decisions have helped shape the landscape of non-compete agreements in Illinois, emphasizing the importance of fairness and reasonableness in these contractual arrangements. It’s crucial for both employers and employees to stay informed about these legal developments to ensure that their rights and interests are protected. Continue reading ›

As an employee, you may have come across the term “non-compete agreement” during your job search or employment. Non-compete agreements, also known as restrictive covenants, are contractual clauses that restrict an employee’s ability to work for a competing business for a certain period after leaving their current job.

In Illinois, non-compete agreements are governed by the Illinois Freedom to Work Act. This law, which went into effect in 2017, makes it clear that employers cannot restrict low-wage employees from taking other jobs or working for competitors.

However, for other employees, non-compete agreements may be enforceable under certain conditions. According to the Illinois law, for a non-compete agreement to be enforceable, it must be:

1. Ancillary to a valid employment agreement: The non-compete agreement must be part of an employment contract, and the employee must receive consideration (such as a job offer, a promotion, or a bonus) in exchange for agreeing to the restriction.
2. Reasonable: The non-compete agreement must be reasonable in scope, geographic area, and duration. This means that the restrictions must be necessary to protect the employer’s legitimate business interests and must not impose an undue burden on the employee.
3. Not against public policy: The non-compete agreement cannot be contrary to the public interest or public policy. For example, it cannot restrict an employee’s right to work in their chosen profession or industry.
4. The employer has not breached the employment agreement first. This can include engaging in illegal behavior which forces the employee to resign.

If a non-compete agreement meets these criteria, it may be enforceable in Illinois. However, even if an agreement is enforceable, it does not mean that it will be enforced by a court. Illinois courts will only enforce a non-compete agreement if it is necessary to protect the employer’s legitimate business interests and if the restrictions are reasonable.

It is important for employees to understand their rights and obligations under non-compete agreements. Before signing an employment contract that includes a non-compete clause, employees should carefully review the terms and seek legal advice if necessary. Employees should also be aware of their obligations under the agreement, including any restrictions on their ability to work for competitors after leaving their current job.

In summary, non-compete agreements can be a complex issue for employees in Illinois. While they may be enforceable under certain conditions, employees should be aware of their rights and obligations under these agreements and seek legal advice if necessary. By understanding the law and their rights, employees can make informed decisions about their employment and protect their career opportunities. Continue reading ›