What is a non-solicitation agreement?

A non-solicitation agreement is a type of business contract. These agreements are often used by companies to prevent former employees from soliciting business from current customers and employees.

Companies may ask managers and other professionals to sign non-solicitation agreements to ensure that the employee does not use customer lists for his own benefit upon leaving the company. The non-solicitation agreement may be presented as part of an employment contract or as a standalone contract. The employer may request a non-solicitation agreement at any time during the course of employment. Non-solicitation agreements are difficult to enforce and are not legally binding in California.