Employment contracts entered into by an employer and employee, partner, member or shareholder may contain provisions that protect against the disclosure of trade secrets and other information related to the business. These provisions can be helpful to prevent important business information from disclosure to competitors and the general public. Houston Texas business and employment law firms like AnunobiLaw PLLC can help prepare and enforce these provisions.
What are trade secrets?
Trade secrets include confidential information, documents, methods, procedures, client/customer information, proprietary information, strategies and other information that is not generally known by the public. There are laws that allow employers to protect trade secrets from improper disclosure.
An employment agreement may require that trade secrets remain confidential, even after an employee ceases their employment with the business. To enforce a trade secrets provision, an employer may require seeking an injunction through the court. The business may also be eligible to recover money damages if there is wrongful use or disclosure of trade secrets.
Non-disclosure provisions
An employment agreement may also include non-disclosure provisions that prohibit use and publication of certain information. These provisions can include additional items that are not necessarily considered trade secrets. To be enforceable, a non-disclosure agreement must be reasonable in its terms and duration.
Similar to enforcement of a trade secrets provision, a company may seek injunctive relief to enforce a non-disclosure provision or may seek damages if the disclosure has already occurred.
How can an attorney help?
If you need help prosecuting trade secret violations, preparing, revising or enforcing an employment agreement, it is important to contact attorneys with the right experience and knowledge. Houston Texas business and employment lawyers at Anunobi Law PLLC can help you determine the best course of action to pursue based on your particular circumstance.
