As those following the ongoing debate over noncompete agreements in Massachusetts are aware, there is a movement afoot in Massachusetts to either ban noncompetes or to modify the law in certain material respects. We have covered those stories on multiple occasions, as have many others (some of which are cited in our posts).
Yesterday, the Massachusetts Governor’s Office weighed in through Secretary Gregory Bialecki of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. Secretary Bialecki’s opinion is, in short, that it is premature to make any changes in noncompete law at this time, particularly given the current economic climate. His comments are available here. In contrast, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is reported to have taken a contrary position, noting that Massachusetts noncompete law is “fairly strict” and “has not been upgraded or changed probably since the 1970s, and some of what it does in terms of restrictions on employment was not contemplated for today’s climate.” (Report here.)
The debate continues…
Russell Beck
Sharon Mollman Elliott
Christi Adams
Nancy Geenen
David Sanders
Roberta F. Howell
Jeffrey Kopp
Michael Conway
John Zabriskie
James Griffith
Akiva M. Cohen
Martin J. Bishop
Simon Dance
Linda Hansen
Scott Kaspar
July 29, 2009 at 9:38 am
Thanks for the link to my piece. Yet another new voice: Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Gregory Bialecki weighed in Tuesday with his own thoughts on noncompete clauses. On balance, he says there’s insufficient evidence at this time to justify changing the law. Xconomy’s report: http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2009/07/29/patrick-administration-questions-the-case-for-changing-noncompetes/