The Federal Trade Commission last year proposed a sweeping rule outlawing most non-competition agreements nationwide. The rule applied both to non-competes in the employer-employee context and to a seller of a business in an...more
As we previously reported, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted to issue a final rule (the “Rule”) that would prevent most employers from enforcing noncompete agreements against workers, with only limited exceptions for...more
Last week on April 23, 2024, the FTC adopted a final rule that would effectively ban non-compete agreements in the context of employment relationships when the rule becomes effective on September 4, 2024, absent a stay or...more
On April 23, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), pursuant to sections 5 and 6(g) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (the “Act”), issued their final “Non-Compete Clause Rule” (Rule). This Rule provides that non-competes...more
The Final Rule declares most non-competes an unfair method of competition, in violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act. In its April 23, 2024, open meeting, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted 3-2 to issue a final rule...more
Non-competition agreements and similar restrictive covenants form a bundle of rights and obligations that are hotly negotiated between buyers and sellers in every M&A transaction. These covenants often represent tradeoffs...more
On July 9, 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order, in which he described the nation’s antitrust laws as the “first line of defense against the monopolization of the American economy” and encouraged the Federal Trade...more
Despite the aggressive rhetoric, the change in the leadership and composition at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) did not result in more enforcement in 2021. As the calendar turned to 2022, the FTC seems to be stepping...more