Executive Order has Little Immediate Impact on Employee Non-Competition and Related Restrictive Covenants

On Friday, July 9, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order on “Promoting Competition in the American Economy” (the Order) aimed at limiting certain anti-competitive practices across multiple sectors, including agriculture, telecommunications, technology and pharmaceuticals. The Order highlights a multitude of anti-competitive practices in these sectors, including the increasing pervasiveness of non-competition and related agreements throughout the American economy. While the Order itself does not prohibit non-competition agreements — and is not expected to have any immediate effect on their enforceability — employers should view the Order as a possible precursor to further actions over the coming months and years.

Executive Order has Little Immediate Impact on Employee Non-Competition and Related Restrictive Covenants
On Friday, July 9, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order on “Promoting Competition in the American Economy” (the Order) aimed at limiting certain anti-competitive practices across multiple sectors, including agriculture, telecommunications, technology and pharmaceuticals. The Order highlights a multitude of anti-competitive practices in these sectors, including the increasing pervasiveness of non-competition and related agreements throughout the American economy. While the Order itself does not prohibit non-competition agreements — and is not expected to have any immediate effect on their enforceability — employers should view the Order as a possible precursor to further actions over the coming months and years.