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California Court of Appeal Reads Employment Agreement in Conjunction with a Sale of Business Transaction Yet Refuses to Apply “Sale of Business” Exception to its Non-Compete Clause

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On August 24, 2012, a California Court of Appeal clarified when an employment agreement can satisfy the “sale of business” exception to California’s general ban on post-employment non-compete provisions. The Court held that when a stock purchase agreement’s non-compete clause already adequately protects the goodwill of the sold business, any inconsistent and additional non-compete protection in a related employment agreement with the purchasing company may not be enforceable. The holding signals that an employment agreement’s non-compete covenant does not automatically qualify for the “sale of business” exception  simply because it is part of the same transaction as a stock purchase agreement. READ MORE