Should Employee Non-Competes Be Banned?

Should Employee Non-Competes Be Banned?

Business Forum on Proposed Limits to Non-Competes in Massachusetts

Many businesses require employees to sign non-compete agreements as a condition of employment.  These businesses generally view non-competes as necessary to protect company trade secrets and/or customer good will.  However, some critics believe the use of non-competes has been widely abused and must regulated by statute.  Others believe non-competes are unnecessary altogether, stifle the state’s economy, and should be banned entirely, as they are in California.

Several bills have been filed in the Massachusetts legislature to restrict the use of employee non-competes.  These bills range from a California-like ban on non-compete agreements to legislation establishing rules governing their use.  Although these legislative efforts have been unsuccessful to date, momentum appears to be building for some action in this area.  Indeed, the Patrick Administration has declared its strong support for restrictions on the use of non-competes.

This program gives businesses an opportunity to:

• hear from a leading sponsor of proposed non-compete legislation and the Patrick Administration’s point person in this area;
• express views and concerns of businesses regarding the proposed limits; and
• participate in a serious discussion over how the Commonwealth should proceed on this hotly debated issue.

Panelists:

Will Brownsberger (D-Belmont), Senator, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Jennifer Lawrence, Assistant Secretary of Economic Development for the Patrick Administration

Philip Papoojian, President and Chief Operating Officer, Mereco Technologies Group

Jack P. Salerno, President, Agiltron, Inc.

Russell Beck, Partner, Beck Reed Riden LLP

Robert Shea, Partner, Morse Barnes-Brown & Pendleton, P.C.; Chair, SBANE

Cost: $35 SBANE Members / $50 Non-Members

To attend this event, register at sbane.org or call SBANE Events Coordinator at (781) 890-9070.