In the case of MPT Group Ltd v Peel and others [2017] EWHC 1222 (Ch), the High Court was asked to decide whether employees were under a duty to disclose their intention to compete to their employer. The facts of the case were that Mr Peel and Mr Birtwistle were employed by MPT Group Ltd…
Employers often choose to insert restrictive covenants into their employment contracts as a mechanism to protect their business interests when their employees leave. They are generally more appropriate for those more senior employees who have access to confidential information and/or have key relationships with clients, suppliers or other employees. However, it appears that more and more employers are…
It is often said that a court, when considering contractual issues, will overlook drafting errors in order to give effect to what the parties intended and therefore make sense of what would otherwise be contradictory or plainly “wrong”. Indeed there are many High Court judgments which clearly apply that approach. However, it is a dangerous…
In Coppage & Anor v Safety Net Security Ltd the Court of Appeal looked at the reasonableness of a six month non solicitation covenant entered into by Mr Coppage, a director of a security company which supplied door supervisors and other security staff. The covenant was expressed so that it would cover anyone who had…
There are many cases concerning the alleged infringement of employers’ proprietary information, particularly following the termination of an employee’s employment. The classic counterpoint is between the protection of confidential information to which an employee has had access in the course of employment and need to avoid interference in commerce by restraint of trade unless protection…
It’s a familiar scenario: after a promotion, an employee is sent a new contract to sign. It includes some new benefits, but also there are some post termination restrictions in there. The employee looks it over, perhaps, then tucks it away at the back of a drawer to deal with later, or with no intention…
In Caterpillar Logistics Services (UK) Ltd v de Crean, the Court of Appeal has upheld the refusal of an injunction application against a former employee. Mrs de Crean had worked in a senior capacity and had a contract which included a confidentiality agreement but did not include terms restricting her activities after her employment ended.…
[picappgallerysingle id=”7776916″ align=”left”]Many employers are worried about employees leaving to work for a competitor and therefore seek to impose restrictions on what the employee can do after termination of employment. These post-termination covenants are clearly in restraint of trade and therefore contrary to public policy. However, they are permitted if they can be shown to…