High Swartz LLP has been named by Best Law Firms® as a Tier 1 national law firm in two practice areas in 2024

High Swartz LLP is nationally ranked in Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Litigation and 12 legal practices areas in the Philadelphia region.

To achieve a "Best Law Firm" ranking, a firm must have at least one lawyer included on The Best Lawyers in America© list. High Swartz LLP is proud to have 9 attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers® in 2024 in America and two in its Ones to Watch edition.

The "Best Law Firms" rankings are based on a combination of client feedback, information provided on the Law Firm Survey, the Law Firm Leaders Survey, and Best Lawyers peer review.

High Swartz LLP: Nationally Ranked Leaders in Land Use, Zoning Law, and Real Estate Litigation

High Swartz LLP is a tier 1 nationally ranked law firm in the United States, specializing in land use and zoning law, as well as real estate litigation. 

Recognition and Rankings in Southeastern Pennsylvania

The firm's strong national presence extends locally to 12 practice areas in the Philadelphia Metro region, which includes Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and other southeastern Pennsylvania counties. This recognition underscores the firm's commitment to providing exceptional legal services and client satisfaction in our region.

Participation in a Rigorous Evaluation Process

We participate in an extensive evaluation process that starts with lawyer recognition in individual legal practice areas. High Swartz is judged yearly on new client contact and feedback. We actively seek this feedback from clients and professional references, underscoring our strengths in responsiveness, understanding of clients' needs, and cost-effectiveness. This approach solidifies the firm's commitment to delivering exceptional legal counsel and services year in and out.

Overall law firm performance is evaluated through an outside assessment process, comparing and contrasting other leading firms nationally and in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. That assessment brings you to the rankings that our firm present to you today.

When you're looking for attorneys near you in the Greater Philadelphia, Bucks County, and Montgomery County areas, get in touch with our law office. As shown, national and local resources consistently cite our law firm and its lawyers and attorneys. 

Attorney Roxanne Zhilo Joins High Swartz's Commercial Litigation Group

High Swartz LLP is pleased to welcome commercial litigation attorney Roxanne Zhilo to the firm. Roxanne joins the firm's Montgomery County law office after previous experiences at law firms in Ocean, New Jersey and Philadelphia.

Much of Roxanne's practice focuses on business litigation and complex civil litigation matters. She also works as SMB counsel, has experience with employment law and small contract matters. She regularly advises multiple non-profits and businesses in risk mitigation, liability assessment, procedural and protocol framework, and employee policies.

Roxanne received her J.D. from Villanova University School of Law in 2014. During her time there, she authored her 3L thesis on the intersection of Social Media and E-Discovery within the realm of Litigation. This exploration delved into how the standard for invading privacy evolves within specific legal domains and would shape Roxanne's subsequent interest in the technology space. Her role as a liaison between her firm and digital forensics companies was further cultivated in her work with extensive data sets, electronic discovery, and various aspects of litigation technology. In recognition of her work, Roxanne was included in the Legal Intelligencer's Lawyers on the Fast Track and Super Lawyers Rising Stars lists.

Roxanne was born and raised in the Bustleton section of Northeast Philadelphia and currently lives there. She attended George Washington High School then received her B.A. from Temple University in Strategic and Organizational Communications.

Roxanne is an active member of her community. She has helped to form and advise non-profits for school programing, town watches, and even a music festival. Roxanne is fluent in Russian and works with various religious and immigrant groups. She also still actively gives back to her high school and undergrad, working as both an advisor to certain organizations and a mentor to students.

More about Roxanne

Legal Issues with Social Media

Datareportal reports that 4.7 billion people worldwide use social media, spending an average of two hours and 29 minutes on it a day. That's more than half the world. 

So, it's not surprising that social media law has emerged and includes criminal and civil aspects. Owing to the numerous legal issues with social media activities, many law firms now have internet and social media lawyers dedicated to counseling businesses and individuals on applying its laws on state and federal levels.

What is Social Media Law?

Social media law focuses on the legal issues associated with user-generated content. Some of its top concerns are the right to privacy, defamation, and intellectual property law covering trademarks, logos, and other copyrighted material.

Social media covers a lot of ground, and social networking is one key component. But it extends beyond that. It covers any technology allowing online communications. Facebook and Twitter immediately come to mind.

But there are also blogs, wikis, chat rooms, reviews, comments, and more. For example, a web page with a comments section is part of social media. In short, any website that involves interaction is social media.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has strict policies that govern social media use. You can read more about the policies and standards here.

Moreover, numerous state, federal, and foreign statutes apply to social media law. You can view some of the more critical laws here.

Top Legal Issues with Social Media

Some of the top issues are:

  1. Copyright Infringement
  2. Defamation
  3. Privacy and Confidentiality
  4. Misleading Information
  5. Business Contracts

Let's look closer at each of those potential legal concerns.

Copyright Infringement

It's easy to cut and paste content from sites on the internet. But using content from another site can result in criminal and civil liability.

Intellectual property laws govern the use of trademarks and copyrights. Copyright relates to the authorship of original works like art, books, music, and more.

Consequently, it's essential to have policies governing your business' online content publication. You should have someone review posts and messages for legal compliance before publication. When using third-party content, you should attribute the content to that party to avoid any copy infringement. A social media lawyer can help draft appropriate guidelines.

Defamation

First Amendment rights do not protect defamatory statements. Such statements typically fall under two categories:

    1. Libel: Tangible, written statements
    2. Slander: Spoken words or gestures

The criteria for either is that the statement was objectively false, seen or heard by a third party, and caused financial injury. The comment is also unprivileged by law.

It's always best to show caution when commenting about a third party. Social media platforms make those comments immediately viewable by millions of people and can quickly create a legal issue for you. Note that sharing or liking another person or business' defamatory comment can present a legal issue for you. And if you make an ill-advised comment while at work, you potentially put yourself and your employer at risk.

Two recent Pennsylvania employment termination cases give this same advice to adult social media users. In both cases, courts upheld terminations for employees’ mean-spirited off-duty social media comments.

Privacy & Confidentiality

Privacy laws govern the collection, use, disclosure, and storage of personal information. Moreover, you must inform individuals that you are collecting such information. And you cannot disclose that information unless it's for specific purposes. It's common to see businesses to require a signed agreement to use your NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) in any social media content produced by the employer.

Europe implemented the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018. It spelled out rules to guarantee the protection of personal data. The United States has no such law, however, the California Online Privacy Protection Act (OPPA) approved legislation covering online privacy. So, if you're conducting business in the state, it's necessary to comply with its requirements.

Any personal data collected must be stored securely. As a result, data breach lawsuits have become commonplace, impacting businesses both large and small. For example, Equifax suffered a data breach exposing the personal information of 147 million people. The settlement included up to $425 million distributed to those affected.

Misleading Claims

It's best to substantiate any claims made on social media to avoid legal issues. Consumer protection laws prohibit businesses from making false, deceptive, and misleading claims about products or services.

The same goes for reviews of a company or service. It's common practice for companies to capture reviews through social media channels. But, of course, those reviews need to be legitimate and not falsified or misleading. The same holds for endorsements. Google and other search engines are getting better daily at identifying fake reviews, and will not hesitate to penalize company websites.

Business Contracts

Businesses of all sizes execute contracts, including non-disclosure agreements, confidentiality agreements, and non-compete agreements. Interestingly, On January 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed a rule to ban non-compete clauses. This has since been approved and has retroactively negated many of these clauses. That being said, social media communications can set the stage for breaches of the formerly stated contracts.

For example, employees must be aware of business contracts with non-disclosure agreements. Imparting essential knowledge detailed in such agreements can lead to a lawsuit. Here's another example. Let's say you recently hired an employee. A recently hired employee has a non-compete agreement from their former employer preventing him from contacting former clients. The employee then changes his status on LinkedIn, which sends out an update to clients, including some former clients. In the past, this scenario could open the door for a suit claiming a breach of contract against the former employee.

Tips to Avoid Legal Issues with Social Media

Even though social media focuses on sharing information and free expression, it's not without legal risks for businesses and individuals.

Here are some things you can do to mitigate your risks of legal action as a business owner:

  1. Social Media Policy: Work with an employment or business lawyer to create a policy document covering all aspects of social media communications. It's essential to document how employees use social media in the workplace and what they can say.
  2. Permissions for Licensed Content: Ensure you get explicit consent to use copyrighted materials such as images.
  3. Monitor Content: Establish standards for publishing content. Then monitor and moderate content and posts. If something seems inappropriate, remove it.
  4. Train Employees: Keep your employees and subsequently your handbooks and policies updated with the latest social media laws and regulations.

As an employee, you must understand that any comments you make on social media during the workday can impact your business. The same holds for you outside business hours. Your comments on social media can land you in hot water.

Talk to a employment or business lawyer If You're Facing a Legal Issues with social media

Social media and the laws governing it can substantially impact a business and its employees. Don't hesitate to contact us if you are in need of guidance.

Our law firm has offices covering Bucks and Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania We have attorneys experienced in intellectual property law, business law, and employment law. We also have top litigation attorneys to support you with any lawsuit concerns, either presenting or defending a suit.

How Would a Non-Compete Ban Impact My Business? – 5 Things to Know

On January 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed a rule to ban non-compete clauses in employment agreements nationwide, except in very limited circumstances. If enacted as written, the proposed rule would supersede all contrary state laws that currently govern non-competes.

1. What is a Non-Compete Agreement?

A non-compete agreement is a restrictive covenant limiting your ability to work in a particular field or industry. Generally, the non-compete specifies the length and the geographic area of the restrictions.

Currently, state laws govern the enforceability of non-competes. Limitations on non-competes vary from state to state. For example, California, North Dakota, and Oklahoma, Montana and District of Columbia don't allow non-compete agreements. Pennsylvania and neighboring states limit (but don't prohibit) non-competes.

2. What Would the FTC's Proposed Rule Do?

If made final, the proposed rule would prohibit employers in every state from entering into or enforcing non-competes with workers (including employees, independent contractors, volunteers, interns, and any other individuals who work for an employer). The FTC rule states that non-competes are unfair methods of competition, which the FTC Act prohibits.

The proposed non-compete ban would require employers to rescind existing non-competes within six months. In addition, employers would have to provide individual notice to current and former employees that their non-compete clause is no longer in effect or enforceable.

The proposed rule does not prohibit non-competes that are part of the sale of a business.

3. When Could The Non-Compete Ban Take Effect?

The proposed rule is open for public comment until March 10, 2023. After that, public members may request more time to submit comments.

Once the comment period closes, the FTC may modify the proposed rule before deciding whether to reopen the comment period or whether to issue a final non-compete ban.

A final rule may face lawsuits challenging the rule's content or the FTC's authority to take away state authority to regulate non-compete agreements. Because of the likelihood of challenges, the timeline for any proposed rule is unclear.

However, the long-term trend among the states is to limit or ban non-compete agreements. State and federal courts have ruled against enforcement of non-competes where employers appeared to overreach. State legislatures have considered laws that prohibit or limit non-competes.

4. How Can I Protect My Business Without Using Non-Competes?

The proposed rule does not specifically ban other types of restrictive covenants, such as non-solicitation or non-disclosure agreements, which employers can use to protect their business interests. These are described below.

Non-Solicitation Agreements restrict ex-employees from asking customers, vendors, or other employees to move to the employee's new employer. The employee may work for a competitor but may not initiate contact with the former employer's customers, vendors, or employees to gain a competitive advantage. Like non-competes, non-solicitation agreements have a limited duration (typically one or two years).

Non-Disclosure/Confidentiality Agreements prohibit the employee from using confidential information acquired during an employee's tenure with the employer. Examples include customer lists, trade secrets, unique manufacturing processes, and product development initiatives. Unlike other restrictive covenants, confidentiality provisions need not include time limits.

Although the proposed non-compete ban does not prohibit non-solicitation or non-disclosure agreements, the ban would extend to de facto non-compete clauses. These are contractual provisions written so broadly as to have the functional effect of prohibiting workers from seeking or accepting new employment.

As such, business owners need to understand the terms of their employment agreements and avoid using overly broad language in them. Restrictive covenants should be written narrowly to protect legitimate business interests, such as confidential information or trade secrets, and shouldn't be any broader than necessary to protect those interests. Contact a business lawyer or employment attorney to review your current agreements.

5. What Else Can Businesses Do To Prepare for a Non-Compete Ban?

The FTC's proposed rule may or may not become law, and its final version may differ significantly from its current version. Nonetheless, employers should continue monitoring the status of the proposed rule and state law for any related legislative developments that may occur in the meantime.

While employers don't need to take any immediate action, business owners using non-competes should consider the enforceability of their existing restrictive covenants and determine if those restrictions are necessary to protect a business's interest.

Business owners may find it valuable to revisit and consider updating their existing employment agreements to best comply with the purpose of the proposed rule.

Talk to Our Employment Lawyers

It makes sense to have some restrictive covenants to protect your business if you're an employer.

Our business and employment lawyers can provide employers throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey with sound advice and representation. Our employment law attorneys deal with workplace issues in an ever-changing environment and seek to minimize the risk of employee lawsuits for our clients.

If you'd like to learn more about enforcing a restrictive covenant or about creating an employment agreement for your business, call our Montgomery County and Bucks County law offices today at 610-275-0700.

The information above is general: we recommend you consult an attorney regarding your circumstances. The content of this information is not meant to be considered legal advice or a substitute for legal representation.

Watch out for Non-Hire and Anti-Poaching Agreements!

You are the CEO of Company A, a cutting-edge developer of new software.  Over golf (or sushi), you agree with the CEO of equally advanced Company B that each of you will not hire or try to hire away the other’s top talent through an anti-poaching agreement.

Is anything wrong with this?  Yes!  The Sherman Antitrust Act prohibits contracts in restraint of trade or competition.  And an agreement with no purpose besides conspiring to limit talent competition is a per se violation of the Sherman Act.  The Sherman Act carries severe criminal and civil penalties.  So the two CEOs should re-think their approach, to put it mildly.

Both CEOs have tried to enter into non-hire and anti-poaching agreements. In such an agreement, competing employers agree to refrain from hiring or recruiting (poaching) each other’s employees.  A typical agreement prohibits cold calling and bidding wars for employees and requires notification when recruiting each other’s employees.

Anti-Poaching Agreements Present Serious Concerns

Non-hire and anti-poaching agreements raise several key policy and economic concerns.

First, the agreements make it hard for employees to move between employers.  Most employees are at-will employees who may leave one employer for another at any time, for any reason or no reason.

Second, these agreements operate to suppress employee salaries. For example, competition for talent drives wages up, and restraints on competition have the opposite effect.

Third, the agreements may not even be known to employees who try to find a new job (or recruit from other companies), only to find they have violated a policy set by those at the top.

Anti-Poaching Agreements Serve Little Purpose

Non-hire or anti-poaching agreements are also unnecessary.  Employers can use less harsh measures to protect against a talent drain by using contracts that are ancillary to a business relationship and reasonable in scope.  Post-employment restrictive covenants for non-competition and non-solicitation may limit an employee from working for a competitor or accepting or soliciting business from customers.

Restrictive covenants are enforceable if supported by consideration. For example, the restrictions must reasonably relate to legitimate business interests. They must also be reasonable in time and geographic scope. Employers may also contract to restrict a departing employee from soliciting or hiring former co-workers to join a new employer during a short post-employment period.

This type of anti-raiding agreement is enforceable in Pennsylvania to prevent a competitor from crippling or destroying another business. However, it does not prevent a competitor from hiring away talent.  And courts are reluctant to find that an ex-employee has solicited anyone absent active pursuit of a former colleague. For instance, it is not a solicitation to tell someone about an opportunity or a job posting.

Beyond that, courts have allowed anti-poaching agreements in limited circumstances where one employer places a consultant or expert with another business.  An employer may also require employees to repay training costs where an employee receives training and then leaves shortly afterward.  Unions have the same power where a trainee takes a non-union job after training.

Case Law Relating to Poaching Clauses

Like many employment law trends, scrutiny of anti-poaching agreements seems to have started in California.  The courts first addressed a class action by employees in the technology industry. Employees complained of a concerted effort to prevent poaching.

The following major class action dealt with the animation industry.  But non-hire agreements have also arisen in less high-flying or glamorous industries.  For example, earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice negotiated an antitrust settlement that banned non-hire agreements by two significant competitors in the rail equipment industry.  This settlement led to a private civil antitrust class action by employees of the two competitors.

And in March 2018, a Pennsylvania Superior Court panel affirmed a lower court order invalidating a no-hire agreement in the trucking industry as contrary to public policy.  The Superior Court has since granted the reargument en banc and has withdrawn the panel decision.  The en banc decision will tell us whether Pennsylvania will join those who have rejected no-hire agreements, like Wisconsin, or permit suitably narrow agreements like many other states.

And finally, the fast food industry has come under fire for using anti-poaching agreements prohibiting employees from working simultaneously at more than one chain location.  Early in July, attorneys general in 11 states demanded documents from eight well-known fast food chains regarding the use of these no-poaching provisions.  So non-poaching agreements are seemingly in use, and under attack, in both the economy's high-end and more basic sectors.

Talk to Our Employment Lawyers

If you have questions about anti-poaching agreements, please contact Thomas D. Rees at 610-275-0700 or trees@highswartz.com. Our employment lawyers provide businesses and nonprofit organizations throughout the Pennsylvania region, including Bucks County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, Philadelphia, and Chester County, with sound advice and excellent representation. Our employment law attorneys deal with workplace issues in an ever-changing environment. They seek to minimize the risk of employee lawsuits for our clients.

The information above is general: we recommend you consult an attorney regarding your circumstances.  The content of this information is not meant to be considered legal advice or a substitute for legal representation.

Non-Compete 101

Throughout your professional career, you may have signed a non-compete. But, if you haven't yet, now is an excellent time to learn about these common and important documents.

Typically, you'll receive a non-compete agreement when you start a new job. Your temptation may be to skim the pages without paying attention to the details or restrictions. After all, the non-compete only applies after you leave this job, and you're likely thrilled about the new position at the moment of signing. But it's later, when a headhunter contacts you or you're ready for a career change, that you begin to worry about the implications of your non-compete.

What is a Non-Compete?

A non-compete agreement is a restrictive covenant limiting your ability to work in a particular field or industry. Generally, it includes a timeframe and defines the geographic area where you can work. It differs from a garden leave agreement, commonly used for companies in financial sectors.

Some states, like North Dakota, Oklahoma, and California, don't enforce non-competes. Pennsylvania has no general statute or regulations governing them.

That said, plenty of case law guides interpreting, understanding, and enforcing non-competes. However, Pennsylvania courts disfavor tools used to restrain trade. As a result, they tend to construe non-compete agreements against an employer seeking enforcement.

Accordingly, the courts will only enforce a  non-compete agreement that is:

  1. Incidental to an employment relationship between the parties
  2. Reasonably necessary to protect the employer's business interests
  3. Reasonably limited in scope, duration, and geography

Courts require that you affirmatively agree to the terms of a non-compete - such as by reading and signing it. So, for example, an employer can't just tell you it is there and bind you to its terms.

In addition, you're not required to sign a restrictive covenant. However, your employer may rescind the job offer by failing to do so. Moreover, your employer may fire you if you are already employed. You can contest the employer's decision.

Whether you win or not depends on the facts of each case and state employment laws. In addition, the reasonableness of the proposed non-compete may be relevant.

Non-Compete Agreements Require Consideration

Like any other contract, a non-compete agreement requires sufficient consideration. Generally, your employment represents appropriate consideration. So, your employer will ask you to sign a non-compete before or after your employment begins. Accordingly, you'll want to keep an eye out for a non-compete in the packet of papers you get on your first day.

After beginning work and being asked to sign a non-compete, the consideration can be either an increase in pay or a beneficial change in your employment status. However, an employer telling you to "sign or get out" is not sufficient consideration in Pennsylvania.

Restrictions on Your Employment

Once you satisfy yourself that consideration exists, you'll want to look at the agreement's actual terms. Since every non-compete and restrictive covenant is unique, the terms analysis will be highly fact-specific. Nonetheless, there are some rules of thumb to keep in mind.

Courts rarely uphold any types of restrictive covenants with non-competes combining excessive timeframes with a broad geography.

Pennsylvania courts have usually upheld restrictions for durations of one to three years. Regarding geographic scope, Pennsylvania courts look to the range of the employee's duties in defining a reasonable territorial limitation. For example, your position is sales-related and in a relatively defined territory. In this instance, a non-compete agreement prohibiting you from selling a competitor's product or service would likely be appropriate.

A Pennsylvania court may, at its discretion, modify the terms of the agreement. For example, it can assign a more reasonable scope or duration if determining the more appropriate course of action. Indeed, some non-competes go overbroad with their restrictions. As a result, a court may nullify the non-compete entirely if an employee challenges the agreement.

Is It Possible to Challenge a Non-Compete Agreement?

If you ignore a non-compete, you risk a lawsuit or termination by your employer. However, there are ways to challenge the validity of your restrictive covenant.

Here are five ways to beat your non-compete agreement:

  1. Breach of Contract: Sometimes, employers bury a non-compete in an employment contract. So, ensure your employer lived up to other contractual obligations such as insurance or compensation. If your employer breached the contract, courts might relieve your non-compete obligations.
  2. Legitimate Interest: Not all positions require a restrictive covenant. For example, suppose your work isn't privy to trade secrets, confidential information, specialized training, or other proprietary materials. In that case, there's no reason to include a non-compete as a condition of employment.
  3. Reasonable Term: As mentioned, courts determine the reasonable timeframe for non-competes. If your employer includes an unreasonable period, courts may not uphold your non-compete. But, again, it depends on your state, job, and industry.
  4. Confidential Information: If you have access to information available to everyone, it's not secret. Courts may not enforce the non-compete if you can prove that information is public domain.
  5. Short-Staffed Positions: Some industries need workers, for example, in health, science, and safety positions. If you're in a short-staffed place, courts typically won't enforce a non-compete.

Talk to an employment lawyer to determine if you have appropriate grounds for challenging your employment agreement.

Is a Non-Compete Enforceable if I'm Fired?

It depends. First, look at the terms of your non-compete to see if it addresses termination. If so, the next question is whether that's legal, which again depends.

For example, if your employer is guilty of misconduct and terminates you, most courts have held that a non-compete is no longer enforceable. The reasoning is that illegal conduct by the employer was not part of your expectations when agreeing to the contract. It holds if your employer conducted unlawful activities and you elect to leave your job because of it.

Even if the reason for your termination is your fault, it's likely not to be a significant determinant. Generally, courts are less eager to enforce a non-compete agreement where the employer, and not you, decides to terminate the relationship.

Talk to an Employment Lawyer Before Signing Any Restrictive Covenants

Ultimately, each non-compete agreement is specific to the employer, its business, and the employee's position. However, interpreting and determining their enforceability is daunting. If you have concerns about a non-compete you signed or your employer asked you to sign, it's wise to seek advice from an experienced employment lawyer. They can help you most effectively navigate the non-compete's terms.

If you have any questions about employment agreements relating to restrictive covenants or employment issues in general, please get in touch with us at 610-275-0700 or main@highswartz.com.

Our employment law attorneys provide clients throughout the Pennsylvania region, including Bucks County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, Philadelphia, and Chester County, with sound advice and excellent representation. Our employment lawyers deal with workplace issues in an ever-changing environment. They counsel and serve employers on general employment policies and handle individual employment matters.

The information above is general: we recommend you consult an attorney regarding your circumstances. You should not consider the content of this information as legal advice or a substitute for legal representation.

 

The 7 Types of Restrictive Covenants to Know

Post-employment restrictive covenants in PA come in multiple varieties. But the non-compete covenant is the most burdensome of all.

Most people have heard, and are likely familiar with, the term non-compete, which is one type of restrictive covenant. It's not uncommon for an employer to ask an employee to sign a non-compete clause, which limits competing for employment after the employee's current job ends. For example, you may have heard of non-competes because of high-profile cases involving executives or broadcast personalities invited to join a competing employer.

But, media spotlight aside, post-employment restrictions come in multiple varieties, and the non-compete covenant is the most burdensome of all post-employment restrictive covenants. Other limits that are easier to create and manage may serve an employer just as well.

What's the Purpose of a Restrictive Covenant?

At their core, restrictive covenants contain four types of promises:

  1. A promise not to compete with a former employer
  2. A promise not to solicit or accept business from customers of the former employer
  3. A promise not to recruit or hire away employees of the former employer
  4. The promise not to use or disclose the former employer's confidential information.

Typically, the duration of restrictive covenants ranges from  1-2 years for employment and 5-10 years for the sale of a business. In addition, covenants must be limited to where the company conducts business and the employee's responsibilities. However, no geographic scope is necessary for a non-solicitation of customers or employees.

A Restrictive Covenant Requires a Legitimate Purpose

Three states prohibit employers from asking their employees to sign restrictive covenants, including California, Montana, and North Dakota. In addition, California prohibits the non-solicitation of customers. Note that Pennsylvania recognizes only the first two types of non-competes presented below.

In the remaining jurisdictions, a restrictive covenant is enforceable only when serving a legitimate purpose. Moreover, the covenant must be reasonable in scope, geography, and time. Although limitations vary from state to state, most jurisdictions apply this framework for determining legitimate purposes:

  • The covenant preserves confidential information
  • It protects customer relationships
  • And it preserves goodwill

For the most part, continued employment is sufficient consideration to support the covenant. But some states require an employer to offer additional consideration, for example, through a signing bonus or severance.

7 Types of Restrictive Covenants

From a broad perspective, we'll address seven types of restrictive covenants. Whether each is enforceable or not, and to what extent, depends mainly on state laws. However,  most states impose varying rules on what specific types of clauses are allowed in restrictive covenant agreements. You can learn more about the enforcement of restrictive covenants here.

1. Non-Compete Covenant

It prohibits an ex-employee from working for a competing employer for a stated period after leaving a job.

2. Specific Non-Compete Covenant

This restrictive covenant is narrower. It keeps the ex-employee from doing business with customers for a set time. But it does not prohibit working for a competitor.

3. Customer Non-Solicitation Covenant

A less strict type of restrictive covenant, the customer non-solicitation covenant, prevents the former employee only from initiating contact with customers (or even prospects) after leaving a job. However, a non-solicit does not bar an ex-employee from doing business with a customer that initiates contact with the ex-employee.

4. Employee Non-Solicitation Covenant

Sometimes called an anti-piracy clause, these agreements prohibit ex-employees from soliciting other former co-workers from joining the new employer. Unfortunately, the courts hesitate to enforce anti-piracy clauses without evidence of an intention to destroy a competitor.

5. Confidentiality or Non-Disclosure Covenant

This restrictive covenant prohibits ex-employees from using or disclosing the employer's confidential business information. Technically, these clauses are not essential to protect confidential information. For example, trade secret law, now embodied in the Pennsylvania Uniform Trade Secrets Act, does this job as well. But many employers also want an explicit prohibition on misuse of employer secrets to bolster any trade secret claim.

6. Garden Leave

The newest type of restrictive covenant is the "garden leave" requirement. This "pre-post-employment" restriction is most common in high-end financial services work. Once the employer has notice of an employee's impending departure, the employer sends the employee home to "the garden" for an extended period.

During garden leave, the employee remains on the old employer's payroll. However, they may not perform work for the old or new employer. In addition, they may not contact clients or customers. The employer uses the employee's garden leave to cement relations with the employee's clients, so the clients do not follow the ex-employee to the new employer. A variation on garden leave is "bench pay." Here, an employer has to pay an ex-employee who can show that the non-compete has prevented acceptance of a new position during the restricted period.

7. Assignment of Property Rights

The seventh restrictive covenant is the assignment of property rights. Generally, the rights to own, patent, copyright, or trademark items happen during employment. This assignment is essential where an employee develops inventions of possible value to the employer.

Have Questions About Restrictive Covenants?

This article serves as a basic introduction to the types of restrictive covenants. But, if you need more information, including what it takes to draft and enforce a valid restrictive covenant, contact Thomas Rees via email at trees@highswartz.com.

The information above is general: we recommend you consult an employment lawyer at our Doylestown and Norristown law firm regarding your circumstances. You should not consider the content of this information as legal advice or a substitute for legal representation.

Restrictive Covenant Enforcement

Obtaining an employee's signature on a post-employment restriction is simpler than restrictive covenant enforcement. By the way, I detailed the 7 types of restrictive covenants in this post.

For example, the former is like a level road with a few curves; the latter is like a twisting mountain highway. Consequently, courts do not view post-employment restrictive covenants favorably because the law prohibits restraints on competition.

The courts will restrain an ex-employee from violating a restrictive covenant only when the circumstances make it reasonable to enforce. However, a Pennsylvania court will look only at the terms when the ex-employer sues for damages, not an injunction. It will not consider the reasonableness of the agreement.

The Four Requirements for Restrictive Covenant Enforcement

There's an easy acronym for the four requirements for restrictive covenant enforcement -- ACRE. It stands for Ancillary, Consideration, Reasonable Terms, and Equitable to Enforce. So, let's look at how each applies to enforcing covenants.

1. Ancillary

A non-compete or non-solicit must be ancillary to an employment or legally enforceable relationship. But the vast majority of restrictive covenants accompany employment relationships. Other associations that support restrictive covenants include independent contractor agreements, sales of businesses, franchises, distributorships, and joint ventures.

2. Consideration

For restrictive covenant enforcement, consideration must support the non-compete or non-solicit. Consequently, the employee must receive something to execute the restrictive covenant. Commencement of employment helps determine consideration, but an employer who extends a comprehensive pre-employment offer must include information about a restrictive covenant with the offer.

For current employees, consideration must include a significant enough benefit to the employee to offset the burden of new post-employment restrictions. The test of what benefit is enough is very much a case-by-case analysis. For example, in some states, continued employment with the employer is sufficient consideration. That's not the case in Pennsylvania, however.

For example, in Socko v. Mid-Atlantic Systems, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that consideration is still needed for restrictive covenant enforcement when a current employee signs a restrictive covenant binding the parties. However, Pennsylvania's Uniform Written Obligations Act provides that a contract will not be unenforceable for lack of consideration where the parties recite that they intend to be legally bound.

3. Reasonableness

The threshold requirement to enforce a restrictive covenant requires a protectable business interest. As a result, the non-compete or non-solicit must be reasonably necessary to protect the employer's legitimate interests and reasonable in length and geographic scope.

However, an employee's general knowledge of customer information is not a protectable interest. As a result, a company cannot restrict future employment for all employees.

Legitimate employer interests include:

    • Goodwill
    • Customer relations
    • Trade secrets
    • Confidential business information
    • Specialized skills or training

In addition to employer interest, restrictive covenants must include reasonable geographic and time limitations. Reasonableness of length often depends on the time the employer needs to hire and train a new employee and restore customer relations and goodwill. Restrictive covenants of one to two years are generally considered reasonable and enforceable.

However, longer (sometimes much longer) durations are appropriate for the sale of a business.

Generally, a restrictive covenant that covers the territory served by the employee will be reasonable. For example, some situations may preclude an employee from joining a competitor within twenty miles. In other instances, it could include preventing employment throughout the United States. However, greed does not pay.

For example, an employer who asked the court for protection everywhere except "the North Pole and Tibet" left the court without restrictive covenant enforcement. Courts have the final say to narrow the time or geography based on what they deem reasonable.

4. Equitable

Finally, the court will look to the case's facts to ensure that restrictive covenant enforcement is fair. For example, the court may refuse to enforce a non-compete if the employer has discharged the employee through no fault on the employee's part.

Examples of a no-fault discharge include a layoff or termination for poor performance despite the employee's best efforts. Other facts that may lead a court to deny enforcement are

    • Sexual harassment of the employee
    • Failure to pay an employee
    • Poor handling of business making the loss of business the employer's fault
    • The employer's past violation of a restriction in hiring the employee it now seeks to restrict.

What Happens When the Restrictive Covenant is Enforced?

If enforced, the employer can seek injunctive relief and obtain a court order enjoining the former employee from violating the terms of the covenant. Generally, injunctive relief requires the employee to leave the new employer.

However, depending on the restrictive covenant's language, the court can direct the violating employee to reimburse the employer for its attorney's fees to enforce the covenant. Typically, the initial agreement spells out this outcome. In addition, it can require the employee to pay back any monies stemming from their violation of the restrictive covenant.

Other forms of monetary relief from restrictive covenant enforcement include the employee compensating the employer for lost profits. The original covenant may also include an amount for violating the agreement. The employee may face punitive damages when evidence of malicious conduct occurs.

Pennsylvania's Blue Pencil Rule for Restrictive Covenant Enforcement

It is important to remember that Pennsylvania follows the "blue pencil" rule that allows courts to modify restrictive covenants so that the terms are reasonable to enforce. Therefore, before enjoining an ex-employee, the courts always consider whether it is necessary to limit the terms of the non-compete or non-solicit agreement. Even where the law and facts support restrictive covenant enforcement, there is no complete guarantee the court will enforce a restrictive covenant fully.

For more information, including what it takes to draft and enforce a valid restrictive covenant, contact Thomas Rees via email at trees@highswartz.com. The employment lawyers at our law firm are here to help. We have offices in Doylestown and Norristown, serving Montgomery and Bucks counties.

The information above is general: we recommend you consult an employment lawyer regarding your circumstances. You should not consider this information as legal advice or a substitute for legal representation.

What is Garden Leave?

Garden Leave Allows Some Protection for an Employer

The term sounds pastoral, but its use is practical. For example, garden leave is an agreed-upon period when an employer pays a departing key employee not to work before the employee joins a competitor. In essence, it's another type of restrictive covenant.

Originating in England, the employee is to stay "in the garden" for the leave's term.

Garden leave is similar, but not identical, to other contracts where an ex-employee is paid instead of working for a competitor. For example, an employer occasionally agrees to a "safety net" or "bench pay," paying the ex-employees salary for the length of a non-compete. However, the ex-employee must first show that the non-compete prevents them from obtaining suitable work.

Garden leave, by contrast, is unconditional. Also, on garden leave, the employee remains on the payroll. Conversely, the employee has already left in a "bench pay" situation.

While the employee is on garden leave, the previous employer has the opportunity to contact the departing employee's customers to retain them. The departing employee has what amounts to a paid vacation and must not work for a competitor during this period. Once this period ends and the employee starts with the new firm, it is an open season. The departing employee and the old employer may solicit and pursue business freely.

How Long Does Garden Leave Last?

Garden leave can range from several months through a year. During the leave period, the employee does no work for either the old or prospective employer. The employee defers the new employer's start date until the leave period's end.

What Type of Companies Use It?

Investment banking and financial service sectors often use this approach. In effect, it takes the place of non-compete agreements. Many firms using garden leave are in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. During the past ten years, courts have begun to pay more attention to its provisions, and the trend is likely to continue.

Pros of Garden Leave

On the surface, garden leaves appeal to courts more so than non-competes. These covenants lower the burden on employees. First, they get paid. Second, the length of the agreement is typically less than a non-compete. It's essential to note that case law is limited in many jurisdictions, leading to concerns about its enforceability.

For employers, garden leave allows them to remove an employee while ensuring they can't use company resources to further their agenda. It also offers the employer some protection as they investigate the situation.

During the leave, only the employer can contact the departing employee's clients without fear of competition from the employee. Courts allow the typical 30 to 90-day period of most garden leave agreements. And that's a critical time for employers following an employee's departure. In addition, employers can release departing employees from the contract if they present no threat.

On the other hand, the employee bears the burden of separation from customers and the possible stigma of not being active in the industry for a brief period. But, they get paid. And the employer can't hire a replacement during garden leave. In addition, employees know that the former employer's customers are fair game after a much shorter restrictive period expires.

Garden Leave Cons

Although the shorter timeframe may benefit an employer, it provides less protection than a restrictive non-compete covenant. Non-competes generally use terms of six months up to two years.

Equally important, the employer pays the employee without them performing work. However, from the employee's perspective, they remain employed and may be required to work during the garden leave period.

Employers can legally fire employees who refuse to take garden leave without explaining. So if employees are not prepared to risk losing their job, their employers can force garden leave upon them.

Employees must realize that the no-contact rule during garden leave is critical. Because the employee is still on the payroll, any attempt by the employee to divert business to a new firm would violate multiple obligations:

  1. The restrictive covenant itself
  2. The duty of loyalty that employees owe to employers
  3. The commitment to preserve confidential employer information and trade secrets

Why Do Employers This Type of Restrictive Covenant?

As a restrictive covenant, garden leave is a less costly, more specific way to sever ties with an employee who poses a competitive threat.

Its use depends on an ex-employers motivation to pursue and secure business that might otherwise migrate with the departing employee. The goal for the employer becomes how to retain business, a more positive focus than non-compete litigation. With a non-compete, the goal is to keep the departing employee from retaining customers. It also prevents them from entering into competition against their former employer.

If you require legal advice regarding garden leave or any other employment law matter, don't hesitate to contact Thomas D. Rees at 610-275-0700 or trees@highswartz.com. The employment lawyers at our Norristown and Doylestown law offices are here to help.

Non-Solicitation Agreements- The Third Rail of Employee Mobility Law

When an ex-employee works for a competitor, the violation of a non-compete covenant is clear-cut. But few employment contracts define what it means to "solicit."

What is a non-solicitation agreement?

As a restrictive covenant, non-solicitation agreements prevent a departing employee from soliciting the old employer's customers or workforce to do business or work with a new employer. But, these clauses are less burdensome than non-compete agreements that prohibit any work for a competitor or bar any service to a former employer's customers.

Like its stricter cousins, a non-solicitation agreement is a restraint on competition. However, it must not tie the ex-employees hands too tightly. Non-solicitation clauses must include consideration. For example, some benefit to the employee to compensate for the post-employment restriction. And the agreement must be reasonably necessary for the employer's protection and reasonable in time, geographic scope, and scope of the prohibited activities. These are the minimum requirements for an ex-employer who seeks a court injunction against violation of a non-solicitation agreement.

These agreements can be confusing. So, if you are looking for an employment lawyer near you to review these documents, contact us at 610.275.0700.

What does it mean to "solicit" and violate a non-solicitation clause?

When an ex-employee works for a competitor, the violation of a non-compete covenant is clear-cut. But few employment contracts define what it means to "solicit."

As a result, courts have developed workable definitions of "solicit" on a case-by-case basis. In Meyer Chatfield v. Century Business Servicing, Inc., 732 F.Supp.2d 514, 520 (E.D. Pa. 2010), Judge Slomsky used Black's Law Dictionary's definition of "solicit":

To appeal for something; to apply to for obtaining something; to ask earnestly; to ask for the purpose of receiving; to endeavor to obtain by asking or pleading; to entreat, implore, or importune; to make petition to; to plead for; to try to obtain; and though the word implies a serious request, it requires no particular degree of importunity, entreaty, imploration, or supplication. To awake or incite to action by acts or conduct intended to and calculated to incite the act of giving. The term implies personal petition and importunity addressed to a particular individual to do some particular thing.

Under this definition, an ex-employee violates a non-solicitation agreement by contacting or inducing former contacts to bring business to the ex-employee. However, an ex-employee must be proactive in violating the agreement. For example, responding to a former customer who initiates contact with the ex-employee is not "solicitation."

In Harry Blackwood Associates v. Caputo, 434 A.2d 169 (Pa. Super. 1981), the Pennsylvania Superior Court held that a non-solicit clause did not prevent an ex-employee from doing business with a customer who had sought out the ex-employee.

What about other ways to inform the business community of new employment?

For example, is it a solicitation to post-employment announcements or send out business cards where some recipients are former contacts? A statement or mentioning a new employee's name in marketing materials does not constitute a solicitation. However, when targeted only to customers inviting them to move their business may be a solicitation. See PharMerica Corp. v. Sturgeon, 2018 WL 1367339, *8 (W.D. Pa. March 16, 2018)

Does a LinkedIn profile post about new employment violate a non-solicitation agreement?

Courts have held that a simple posting or invitation to connect on LinkedIn is not a solicitation. Bankers Life and Casualty Co. v. American Senior Benefits LLC, 83 N.E.3d 1085 (Ill. App. 2017).

But a posting that morphs into a sales pitch constitutes a solicitation. Mobile Mini, Inc. v. Vevea, 2017 WL 3172712 (D. Minn. 2017). For example, in an unpublished 2017 decision, the Pennsylvania Superior Court enjoined as unlawful solicitation a veterinarian's creation of a Facebook page for a new practice containing postings from former clients and other links about animal and pet care. Joseph v. O'Laughlin, 2017 Pa. Unpub. Lexis 3191, 175 A. 3d 1105 (Pa. Super. August 22, 2017). The moral of these cases is that actions beyond a plain vanilla new employment announcement can cross the line into solicitation.

Courts are less likely to crack down on violations of employee non-solicitation contracts than customer non-solicits. However, an ex-employer should be ready to show a court that the purpose of the solicitation is to "cripple and destroy" competition to stop an ex-employee from soliciting former co-workers. Generally, a court will not prohibit solicitation or recruitment of skilled or gifted employees. Nor will courts punish less aggressive contacts with former co-workers, such as telling former colleagues to look for a job posting.

Documentation is Essential

Like all restrictive covenant cases, non-solicitation disputes involve three key participants- the former employer, the ex-employee, and the new employer. Real-time factual documentation is essential for each player in a non-solicitation case. For instance, ex-employees should record all contacts with former customers and co-workers. The record should include information on:

  • Who initiated the communication?
  • Steps the ex-employee took in responding to the contact
  • When they took those steps
  • Whether and how the contact generated new business

A spreadsheet is an excellent way to preserve this information. First, the new employer should monitor the employee's actions. Next, the ex-employer can try to document the loss of business or employees. Finally, customers who don't want to do business with the ex-employee may be willing to provide information on improper conduct. But other customers may want a better deal and freely give business to breakaway employees.

Employers must also resist the temptation to be heavy-handed in dealing with customers and employees. Ex-employers and departing employees must avoid misleading customers or disparaging each other, or litigation for business disparagement or contractual interference may result. And overly adversarial behavior may lead customers to stop doing business with both the ex-employer and the ex-employee. In that case, everybody loses.

If you require an employment attorney near you, contact Thomas D. Rees of High Swartz in Norristown, PA, at 610-275-0700.