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Contract Disputes Restrictive Covenants

Mintz - Employment Viewpoints

Top Massachusetts Court Clarifies That Non-Solicitation Covenants Fall Outside the State’s Non-Compete Law

In a closely watched decision, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in Miele v. Foundation Medicine, Inc. clarified that the Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act (MNAA) (G.L. c. 149, § 24L) does not apply to...more

Potomac Law Group, PLLC

NDAs with Extras: What You Didn’t Sign Up For

Anyone who has had even passing exposure to technology companies has dealt with Non-Disclosure Agreements (commonly referred to as "NDAs" in high-tech companies but "CDAs" in pharma/biotech to distinguish them from the other...more

Morgan Lewis

Massachusetts High Court Clarifies Noncompete Law’s Scope, Declines to Let Nonsolicits ‘Through the Back Door’

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In Miele v. Foundation Medicine, Inc., the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) clarified that the Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act (MNAA or the Act) does not apply to a forfeiture clause triggered by a breach...more

Robins Kaplan LLP

Avoiding a Tragic End to a Fiduciary Relationship

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Blockbuster movies follow varied plotlines—some tragic, some heartwarming, some a mix. Often they are based on human dramas. In the real world, fiduciary relationships can set the proverbial stage for unwelcomed high drama,...more

Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.

Massachusetts High Court Rules for Employer in Nonsolicitation Challenge

Although the Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act expressly excludes nonsolicitation agreements from its definition of “noncompetition agreements,” the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) recently responded to a...more

Morgan, Brown & Joy, LLP

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Clarifies Scope of Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act

On Friday, June 13, 2025, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued its decision in Miele v. Foundation Medicine, Inc., SJC-13967, holding that forfeiture clauses tied to non-solicitation agreements were definitively...more

Holland & Knight LLP

Supreme Judicial Court Clarifies Scope of Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act

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The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) has ruled that a forfeiture clause triggered by a breach of a non-solicitation agreement is not a "forfeiture for competition agreement" under the Massachusetts Noncompetition...more

BCLP

Hong Kong High Court Grants Injunction to Enforce Restrictive Covenants

BCLP on

In two separate decisions in April 2025, the Hong Kong High Court first refused, but then allowed, an IT company’s application for an interlocutory injunction to enforce post-termination restrictive covenants against its...more

Lathrop GPM

Arizona Federal Court Dismisses Franchisee’s Defamation Counterclaims Against Franchisor

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A federal court in Arizona recently dismissed a franchisee’s counterclaims for breach of contract, defamation, and injunctive relief against its former franchisor. LeTip World Franchise LLC v. Long Island Soc. Media Grp. LLC,...more

Lowndes

Just Argued: Florida Supreme Court Tackles Property Law Shake-Up That Could Hit Property Owners and Developers Alike

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This morning, the Florida Supreme Court heard RJ’s International v. Crown Castle, a high-stakes case poised to reshape how contractual terms in property agreements affect future landowners. The justices are weighing whether...more

Proskauer - Employee Benefits & Executive...

Tenth Circuit Affirms Distinction Between Forfeiture and Penalty for Competition

In Lawson v. Spirit AeroSystems, Inc., the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit upheld the forfeiture of certain stock awards for violating a covenant not to compete. Like the Seventh Circuit in LKQ Corp. v....more

Troutman Pepper Locke

Restrictive Covenants Unenforceable Where Consideration Forfeited

Troutman Pepper Locke on

In North American Fire Ultimate Holdings, LP v. Alan Doorly, the Delaware Court of Chancery held that the restrictive covenants included in an incentive unit grant agreement were unenforceable when the units received by the...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Weathering the Business Divorce Storm: Charting Safe Passage for Both Sides of the Transaction

Business divorces often involve turbulence as business partners go through this process. But partners who plan ahead can navigate through their business divorce to avoid capsizing the company or frustrating their personal...more

Morgan Lewis - Tech & Sourcing

Radius Clauses in Music Performance Contracts

As the summer 2025 concert season continues to ramp up, we want to take the opportunity to explain why your favorite band or artist might only be performing once in your region this summer: a radius clause....more

Lathrop GPM

Massachusetts Federal Court Grants Preliminary Injunction for Noncompete Violations, Denies Injunction for Trademark Infringement

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A federal court in Massachusetts recently granted, in part, a Motion for Preliminary Injunction as to enforcement of franchise agreement noncompete covenants but denied the motion as to claims of trademark infringement,...more

Patton Sullivan Brodehl LLP

Court Clarifies Value of “Performance Deed of Trust” in Foreclosure

The California Court of Appeal recently clarified how courts should value a Performance Deed of Trust (PDOT) in foreclosure, and affirmed that the performance obligations included in the deed of trust survive beyond...more

Foley & Lardner LLP

Complying With Recent Guidance From Delaware Courts Regarding Enforcement of Noncompetes

Foley & Lardner LLP on

In line with the national trend making noncompetes more difficult to enforce, a number of Delaware courts have recently refused to “blue pencil” overbroad noncompetition agreements and have stricken them in their entirety. As...more

Quarles & Brady LLP

Supply Chain Survival Series: Remedies for Breach of Contract (Article #14)

Quarles & Brady LLP on

We have previously discussed the obligations a non-breaching party has to mitigate its own damages in the event of a contract breach. Assuming a party has mitigated its damages, this article discusses the potential remedies...more

Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC

Is a Taco a Sandwich? An Indiana Court Weighs In: How to Approach Real Estate Restrictive Covenants

For generations, people have long debated: Is a taco a sandwich? In a recent decision, a judge in Fort Wayne, Indiana weighed in and ruled that a taco is, in fact, a sandwich. While this particular case attracted attention...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Delaware Supreme Court Curbs Erosion of Forfeiture-for-Competition Protections

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Delaware has long been favored by businesses for many reasons, including its courts’ deference to parties’ ability to contract. Recently, however, the Delaware Chancery Court was seemingly less deferential to restrictive...more

Holland & Knight LLP

A Cautionary Tale from arrivia Inc. v. Rowley

Holland & Knight LLP on

Enforceability of releases for unknown claims at the time of settlement is a well-established legal principle, as highlighted in the recent case, arrivia Inc. v. Rowley, No. CV-23-01039-PHX-DLR, 2023 WL 7386384 (D. Ariz. Nov....more

Littler

Revisiting Restrictive Covenants in a Commercial Setting: The California Supreme Court Applies a Less Aggressive Approach

Littler on

California is known for having the most aggressive approach among the states regarding restraints on profession, trade, and business. Specifically, California Business and Professions Code section 16600 codifies this...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

Indiana Supreme Court Clarifies When Liquidated Damages Become ‘Unenforceable Penalties’

On December 18, 2019, in American Consulting, Inc. d/b/a American Structurepoint, Inc. v. Hannum Wagle & Cline Engineering, Inc., et al., the Indiana Supreme Court provided clarity about when liquidated damages become...more

Harris Beach Murtha PLLC

Non-Competes and Other Restrictive Covenants: Two Perspectives, One Clear Picture

For employers, non-compete agreements and other restrictive covenants, such as non-solicitation or non-disclosure agreements, can serve as a powerful tool to protect their business and defend their interests. However, these...more

Holland & Knight LLP

Whether the “Economic Loss Rule” Applies To DTSA Claims

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A trade secret misappropriation claim can arise from the same facts as, and be joined with, a claim for breach of contract by the defendant, such as a breach of a covenant not to compete or breach of a non-disclosure...more

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