Scottsdale Confidentiality / Non-Compete Agreement Attorney
If you need an attorney’s assistance either enforcing or arguing against a confidentiality agreement, non-compete agreement or similar contract in Scottsdale, Arizona, the Law Offices of William D. Black can help. Our experienced business attorneys understand restrictive covenant agreements and the most common grounds upon which they are challenged and defeated. Our insider knowledge of these contracts can help you from either side of a case. Contact us today for your free and confidential case review with an attorney in Scottsdale.
What Is a Confidentiality Agreement or Non-Compete Agreement?
A confidentiality agreement is a legal document that prevents one or more parties from disclosing proprietary or confidential information about a business. The most common example is a non-disclosure agreement. These are important contracts that employers can use to protect privileged information and trade secrets from being used against them by competitors.
A non-compete agreement is a legal contract that prohibits employees from engaging in business activities that would directly compete with the employer for a specified amount of time after the employee leaves the company. Non-compete agreements are especially common in the IT and sales fields but are becoming more popular in other industries, as well.
Are Confidentiality Agreements Enforceable in Arizona?
In general, Arizona law upholds confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, as long as the documents are lawful, valid and do not go against public policy. It is important to have a Scottsdale breach of contract lawyer help you draft a confidentiality agreement to make sure that it is enforceable. Likewise, as an employee, a lawyer can review a contract and let you know whether it can be upheld.
Are Non-Compete Agreements Enforceable in Arizona?
Several states have passed laws that do not honor non-compete agreements. In Arizona, however, non-compete agreements and other restrictive covenant agreements are enforceable if they follow state law. In Arizona, a non-compete agreement is deemed valid and legally enforceable if all of the following are true:
- The agreement protects a legitimate business interest.
- The employee receives some type of benefit in exchange for signing the agreement.
- The agreement is reasonable in terms of time and scope.
- The agreement does not violate public policy.
If these factors are present, the courts will most likely uphold a non-compete agreement in Scottsdale. This means that you will not have the freedom to work wherever you’d like after you quit a job if you’ve signed one of these contracts as an employee in Arizona. Likewise, as an employer or business owner, you have the right to have these contracts enforced if an employee quits.
Why You Need a Confidentiality and Non-Compete Agreements Lawyer in Scottsdale
The laws regarding confidentiality and non-compete agreements in Arizona are constantly changing. For example, several new case precedents restrict the enforceability of non-compete agreements, such as Orca Communications Unlimited, LLC v. Ann J. Noder et al. This case showed that Arizona employers must carefully draft non-compete agreements so that they only apply to legitimate business interests sought to be protected. This makes it even more important to have an attorney help you draft and review these documents.
Attorney William D. Black has been practicing business law in the Scottsdale area and throughout Arizona for over 30 years. He has considerable experience with confidentiality agreements, non-competes and other restrictive covenants in business employment contracts. Mr. Black has represented clients on both sides of these cases – business litigation involving the enforcement of and defense against these contracts.
Contact Our Scottsdale Business Law Attorneys Today
The Law Offices of William D. Black has obtained millions of dollars for our business clients in decades of legal service. We have everything that you need for the strongest possible case, including state-of-the-art legal resources, personalized solutions and a top-tier staff. For a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys about finding a resolution to your confidentiality or non-compete agreement case, call (844) 224-0054 or contact us online today.
Main Office - Kierland Corporate Center
7047 East Greenway Parkway, Ste. 250
Scottsdale, AZ 85254