September 2017 LBBB: My Former Employee is Competing with me. Now What?

Every business has something that provides it with a competitive advantage. Often that something is confidential information, trade secrets, well-trained employees, or very loyal customers. Businesses work diligently and for many years to develop its processes, formulae, and methods of conducting business. They also spend a lot of time and energy to create and develop relationships with customers and clients, and to train employees to be successful in the business.

Inevitably, an employee leaves to form or work with a competing business. As part of the employee’s departure, (s)he informs customers of her decision to leave. Perhaps the employee solicits your clients with whom you have entrusted to the employee, using the knowledge of the client’s preferences and contractual arrangement. What can a business do to protect itself when an employee leaves, taking or using trade secrets, or soliciting clients? Can anything be done to stop unfair competition, particularly in light of Business & Professions Code § 16660 which encourages unfettered competition. Can my former employee raid my business of my best employees? What obligations does an employee have to its employer?

We invite business owners, managers, attorneys, and human resources professionals to attend, in person or via webinar, our monthly Legal Beagle Bagel Breakfast to learn more about what businesses can, and should, do to protect themselves against misappropriation of trade secrets, and against unfair competition.

My Former Employee Is Competing With Me, Now What?

     • What a business must do to protect a trade secret. 

     • What to do when a former employee uses confidential information.

     • What agreements should be signed upon hiring?

     • How a lawsuit can protect the company.

     • What are an employee’s duties of loyalty?

     • Can I go after my competitor’s business?

     • Can I force clients to work with me?

Thursday, September 28 2017 – 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

7112 North Fresno Street, Suite 450; Fresno, California 93720

*This session will be available via webinar.

Cost: $25.00 per person (FREE for HR Business Partners); an additional cost of $10.00 per line for participating via webinar. The registration deadline for the webinar is Wednesday September 27, 2017. Fishman, Larsen & Callister is an HRCI Approved Provider. The use of the HRCI seal is not an endorsement by HR Certification Institute of the quality of this program. It means that this program has met HR Certification Institute’s criteria to be pre-approved for recertification credit. HRCI credit is an additional $10.00.

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To register, please contact the FLC receptionist at (559) 256-5000, via fax at (559) 256-5005; or via e-mail to receptionist@flclaw.net. Sign up now! Seating is limited. An RSVP is a commitment to pay. No refunds or cancellations; however, substitutions will be accepted.

Name(s): _________________________________________________________________

Company: ________________________________________________________________

Telephone: _______________________________________________________________

E-mail: __________________________________________________________________

Via Webinar: ______ HRCI Certification: ______

Amount Enclosed: _______________________