Non-Competes, Non-Solicits, and Non-Disclosures in St. Petersburg, Florida

Individuals and companies hire us for all matters relating to restrictive covenants in the workplace. “Restrictive covenant” is a generic term that includes non-competes, non-solicits, and non-disclosures. Below provides examples of our services for individuals and companies.

Individual Representation. We represent individuals in non-compete matters, including for example medical professionals, sales representatives, executives, and entrepreneurs.  Examples of matters where we represent individuals include:

• Assessing enforceability of non-competes and non-solicits in Florida, including those in Pinellas County. Most often, this is the reason individuals contact us. We provide detailed and practical guidance for individuals seeking to understand their rights and obligations under their employment agreements.

• Counseling individuals who are considering changing jobs or starting their own companies on what they should do and not do to minimize the chances they are sued by a prior employer or business partner over a non-compete, non-solicit, or non-disclosure agreement.

• Responding to cease-and-desist letters. Generally, it is critical that a detailed and timely response be provided by an experienced attorney to a cease-and-desist letter. Failing to respond may result in a lawsuit.

• Defending individuals in non-compete, non-solicit, and non-disclosure related lawsuits filed in Florida, including in Pinellas County and the surrounding counties.

Company Representation. Examples of non-compete type matters that businesses hire us for include:

• Drafting reasonable employee restrictive covenants and vendor non-disclosure agreements, executive compensation agreements, independent contractor agreements, and related policies and procedures. We stay abreast of the law and trends to ensure our agreements are cutting edge.

• Assisting multi-state employees with determining the most ideal venue and choice of law provisions for their agreements.

• Providing guidance on protection of confidential business information.

• Assessing enforceability and potential violations of non-competes, non-solicits, non-disclosures, and other contractual terms.

• Vetting potential new hires for restrictive covenant concerns, including non-compete and non-solicit issues.

• Serving as defense counsel for non-compete lawsuits, which often involve claims of breach of contract, tortious inference, misappropriation of trade secrets, civil conspiracy, and defamation.

• When appropriate, enforcing restrictive covenants.  

Contact us at (727) 509-6555 or coordinator@caklegal.com.

Success Stories

We have represented literally hundreds of clients with respect to non-compete agreements and related business litigation. Here are a few examples of success stories and client engagements:

• Obtained dismissal of Florida lawsuit filed in Pinellas County against former employee of Florida-based solar company asserting claims of unfair competition, unjust enrichment, and unfair and deceptive trade practices.

• Defeated national salon’s bid for a temporary injunction against former hair stylist in Sarasota, Florida.

• Represented an insurance agent based in Tampa and convinced prior employer, a Florida-based insurance company, that its non-compete and non-solicit agreement were unenforceable under Florida law. Obtained written approval that insurance company would abandon any efforts to enforce the agreement against the former agent, prior to any lawsuit being filed.

• Defended a medical supply company and certain sales employees of that company in a multi-state federal lawsuit in Tampa and Maryland, involving claims of breach of non-compete agreement and tortious interference against clients. The opposing party, a national medical supply company, originally sought over a quarter million in damages and to enforce 24 months of a non-compete agreement against the sales employees. Prior to injunction hearing, resolved case with no damages being paid and dramatically reduced and narrowed the terms of the disputed non-competes and non-solicits.

• Successfully defeated Brooksville-based trucking company’s motion for temporary injunction against prior owner of company. The trucking company alleged the prior owner violated the non-compete provision in a sale agreement. We not only defeated the motion, but also won attorney’s fees for client.

• Obtained complete dismissal of federal lawsuit filed by national recruiting agency against several former employees asserting claims of unfair competition, defamation, tortious inference, and RICO.

• Obtained injunctive on behalf of a national home health care agency based in Miami, Florida against several former employees and their new employer in connection with claims involving trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duties, and breach of non-solicits.

• Obtained substantial damages on behalf of a Dunedin, Florida hospital against former physician who opened competing practice less than 5-miles from the hospital and directly solicited former patients in violation of non-compete and non-solicit in physician employment agreement.

• Successfully obtained temporary injunction in Florida state court on behalf of leading electrical supply company against former executive in connection with breach of non-solicit agreement.

• Successfully negotiated, pre-lawsuit, on behalf of a national fitness gym franchisee in Tampa, Florida to hire a manager who worked at another national fitness gym franchise and had a non-compete agreement. Prior to our involvement, the fitness facility had threatened to sue our client and the former manager and sought substantial damages. The settlement resulted in our client hiring the general manger, no lawsuit, and paying less than 10% of the amount originally demanded.

• On multiple occasions, successfully recovered substantial damages for clients who were threatened with non-compete lawsuits after determining their former employer not only had an unenforceable non-compete agreement but also failed to pay wages properly.

• Negotiated over 50 employment agreements, non-compete agreements, and severance agreements on behalf of highly compensated individuals, including top sales professionals, high level executives, in-house counsel, and entrepreneurs at start-ups.

FAQs and Non-Compete Educational Materials

We have created a substantial educational materials regarding Florida non-competes, including frequently asked questions. Our Florida Non-Compete FAQs can be found here . You can also find a substantial number of our non-compete related articles and insights here.

St. Pete, Pinellas County Florida

St. Pete is in Pinellas County , Florida. It is one of the three primary cities in the Tampa Bay area, which incudes Tampa, St. Pete, and Clearwater. There are several courts located in Pinellas County, Florida, including a state court . Non-compete lawsuits are generally filed in state court. Under limited circumstances, non-compete lawsuits can also be in federal court.

To speak with one of our attorneys, contact us at (727) 509-6555 or coordinator@caklegal.com.

Frequently Asked Questions