Restrictive Covenants in Employment Contracts

Employers are entitled to protect trade secrets, confidential information, customer connections and the stability of their workforce from unfair competition from former employees and other competitors. The protection of business interests is an issue to be considered and carefully documented at the outset of the employment relationship.

It is a myth that restrictive covenants are rarely enforced, and we regularly deal with employment disputes concerning post-employment restrictions and confidential information. Properly drafted contractual clauses that address the protection of business interests in a targeted and proportionate way will be enforced by the Courts. Claims for damages for breach of such clauses will often fail to provide employers with an adequate remedy; the more effective remedy is an urgent injunction application.

An injunction is a Court Order that requires a party either to do a specified act or refrain from doing a specified act. Examples of such Court Orders may include restrictions on former employees working in certain geographical areas or dealing with certain customers for a specified period. An injunction may also require the return or destruction of important confidential information which, in the hands of a competitor, could cause serious damage to your business.

It is a very serious matter for a Court to grant an injunction. Injunction applications, by their very nature, must be dealt with urgently and require specialist knowledge of employment law, injunction law and Court procedures. Our Employment Law solicitors and Dispute Resolution solicitors are experienced in dealing with these types of employment disputes, recognising when an application for an injunction is needed and both making and defending applications for injunctions.  We work together to provide an expert and seamless service to protect your business in a cost-effective and timely manner.

Our employment solicitors are dedicated to advising on how to achieve your business objectives in the most efficient and practical way. We pride ourselves on providing straightforward and bespoke advice tailored to your business requirements and resources.

We understand that employers need to be commercial, decisive and act calmly but quickly in sensitive employment matters.

Your work will be carried out by a qualified solicitor, who knows your business requirements best. Work is also carried out at the appropriate level, depending on the complexity, sensitivity and importance of the matter. 

We work closely with our clients to ensure that we meet their expectations both in terms of their objectives and in relation to costs. We know that clarity on costs is vitally important to our clients, especially at a time when businesses are challenged by sudden and dramatic changes to economic circumstances.

As standard practice, we give our clients an estimate of the costs at the outset and provide cost updates on a regular basis.

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In particular, we offer:

• City centre standards of advice and service levels due to our policy of recruiting only the best specialist employment solicitors from leading firms.

• We are proud to have been recognised as the “Employment Team of the Year” at the prestigious Manchester Legal Awards 2024.

• Our employment law solicitors are dedicated to advising on how to achieve your business objectives in the most efficient and practical way. We pride ourselves on providing straightforward and bespoke advice tailored to your business requirements and resources.
• As expert employment lawyers, we understand that employers need to be commercial, decisive and act calmly but quickly when sensitive employment disputes arise.
• Our employment solicitors understand you want speedy and satisfactory resolution to avoid protracted and damaging conflict.
• Your work will be carried out by a qualified employment law solicitor, who knows your business requirements best. Our work is also carried out at the appropriate level, depending on the complexity, sensitivity, and importance of the employment issue. 
• We work closely with our clients to ensure that we meet their expectations both in terms of their objectives and in relation to costs. Our employment solicitors know that clarity on costs is vitally important to our clients, especially at a time when businesses are challenged by sudden and dramatic changes to economic circumstances.
• Extensive experience of dealing with a wide range of employers and employment disputes, giving you fast, helpful advice, based on knowledge of your business, its history, and pressures.
• A partner-led service and a genuinely accessible team of experienced employment law solicitors due to our size, structure, and unique culture.