Woodbury Noncompete Agreement Lawyer
Are you concerned that a noncompete agreement could limit your next career move? Perhaps you own a business and want to protect your customers and confidential information. Minnesota law limits most new noncompete agreements, but other contract terms may still affect your rights and obligations. Understanding how the law applies can help you decide what to do next.
I am attorney Jared M. Goerlitz. I have more than 10 years of experience practicing law in Minnesota and Wisconsin. My background includes commercial litigation, corporate compliance and business transactions. I have handled numerous court and jury trials, argued multiple appeals and worked on hundreds of motions and settlements.
At Goerlitz Law, PLLC, I help employees and business owners understand their rights and obligations under Minnesota law, review restrictive covenants and address disputes involving employment and business agreements. I work with clients in Woodbury and across the Twin Cities.
How Minnesota’s Noncompete Ban Impacts Your Contract
A noncompete agreement limits where or how someone can work after leaving a job. On July 1, 2023, Minnesota began prohibiting most new noncompete agreements between employers and workers. The ban also covers many independent contractors.
The law affects employees and employers in different ways:
- For employees and contractors: Most new noncompete agreements cannot stop you from joining a competing business or starting one of your own after leaving a job.
- For employers: You generally cannot use new noncompete agreements to limit where employees work after they leave. You may need to review your employment contracts and find other lawful ways to protect your business interests.
The ban applies to agreements signed on or after July 1, 2023. It does not automatically void agreements signed before that date. Older agreements may still be enforceable, depending on their terms and the law that applied when they were signed. An employment contract review can help you understand whether an older restriction still applies.
Are There Exceptions To Minnesota’s Noncompete Laws?
Minnesota law allows two narrow exceptions:
- Sale of a business: A seller may agree not to compete with the buyer for a reasonable time and within a reasonable area.
- Business dissolution: Certain agreements made when a partnership, limited liability company or corporation is preparing to close may limit competition within a reasonable area.
The ban does not cover every type of restriction in an employment or business agreement. For example, nondisclosure agreements and trade secret protections safeguard business information. Nonsolicitation clauses may also limit contact with former customers or workers.
These provisions are not classified as noncompete agreements under the law. However, that does not make them automatically enforceable. Their wording, scope and use still matter.
Protecting Your Livelihood With A Woodbury Business Attorney
I help employees review employment and severance agreements, negotiate terms and assess restrictive covenants that may limit their next steps. I also advise business owners on ways to protect trade secrets, confidential information and customer relationships through well-drafted agreements and sound business practices.
Whether you are an employee facing limits on your next job or a business owner reviewing employee agreements, I can help you understand your rights and options. If a dispute cannot be resolved through negotiation, I can represent clients in Washington County litigation to challenge or defend against restrictive covenants.
If you need help with a noncompete agreement to protect your career or business interests, call my Woodbury office at 651-237-4845 or contact me online to discuss your situation.