Virginia Noncompete Agreement: What's Included and Enforceability
Quick Facts — Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Avg cost to draft a Non-Compete Agreement: $580.00
- Avg cost to review a Non-Compete Agreement: $350.00
- Lawyers available: 221 employment lawyers
- Clients helped: 268 recent noncompete agreement projects
- Avg lawyer rating: 5.0 (68 reviews)
Is a Non-Compete Agreement Enforceable in Virginia?
Yes. In Virginia, non-compete agreements can be used by employers to protect their business from former employees under certain conditions. Under Virginia law, non-compete agreements cannot be enforced against the following types of employees:
- Low wage employees
- Attorneys
- Interns
- Students
- Apprentices
- Paid trainees
A low wage employee is any employee who makes less than the average weekly wage of the Commonwealth. This number is set by the Virginia Employment Commission and changes based upon industry and inflation.
How Long Does a Virginia Non-Compete Agreement Last?
Virginia doesn’t have a set duration for non-compete agreements. When determining if the duration of a non-compete agreement is reasonable, courts will look at the function of the agreement and the covered geographic area.
For example, a court ruled that a non-compete with a one-mile radius and a three year duration was reasonable. Another court ruled that a non-compete with a 60-mile radius and a one-year duration was reasonable.
How Do You Get Around a Non-Compete Agreement in Virginia?
If an employee wishes to get around a non-compete agreement in Virginia, they will have to prove that he agreement is violates one of the three requirements established by the Virginia courts.
These requirements are:
- The agreement can be no more restrictive than necessary to protect a legitimate business interest.
- The agreement cannot be overly harsh or oppressive on an employee.
- The agreement cannot negatively impact the public.
If an employee proves that ant of these rules has been violated, a court may rule that the contract is unenforceable.
What Voids a Virginia Non-Compete Agreement?
A Virginia non-compete agreement will be void if it was not entered into voluntarily. Any contract that is signed under duress, threat, coercion, or fraud will be deemed void and unenforceable.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Meet some of our Virginia Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
Rebecca S.
I absolutely love helping my clients buy their first home, sell their starters, upgrade to their next big adventure, or transition to their next phase of life. The confidence my clients have going into a transaction and through the whole process is one of the most rewarding aspects of practicing this type of law. My very first class in law school was property law, and let me tell you, this was like nothing I’d ever experienced. I remember vividly cracking open that big red book and staring at the pages not having the faintest idea what I was actually reading. Despite those initial scary moments, I grew to love property law. My obsession with real estate law was solidified when I was working in Virginia at a law firm outside DC. I ran the settlement (escrow) department and learned the ins and outs of transactions and the unique needs of the parties. My husband and I bought our first home in Virginia in 2012 and despite being an attorney, there was so much we didn’t know, especially when it came to our HOA and our mortgage. Our real estate agent was a wonderful resource for finding our home and negotiating some of the key terms, but there was something missing in the process. I’ve spent the last 10 years helping those who were in the same situation we were in better understand the process.
"Rebecca you were awesome I appreciate you working with me and helping me get this done. I look forward to working with you in the future."
Michael T.
I have been in practice since 1990 and practice in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. I am an experienced litigator and look forward to resolving your legal questions as efficiently as possible.
"Easy to work with. Great communication. Helped steer us in the right direction to make sure we filed the right document for our needs."
Anita P.
I specialize in assisting families and individuals with their end-of-life and incapacity planning needs, utilizing Wills, Trusts, and a range of other services.
"Anita was exactly what I was looking for: responsive and fully on top of the assignment."
Tina R.
15 years for legal experience; expertise in contracts, healthcare, ERISA, physicians, financial services, commercial contracts, employment agreements, etc. I am adept at all contracts and can provide you with efficient and quality services. I have worked at a law firm, financial services company, consulting ,and non-profit.
"Tina was great! She responded immediately and professionally and completed my project better than I had even hoped!"
Charlotte L.
I hold a B.S. in Accounting and a B.A. in Philosophy from Virginia Tech (2009). I received my J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2012. I am an associate member of the Virginia Bar and an active member of the DC bar. Currently, I am working as a self-employed legal consultant and attorney. Primarily my clients are start-up companies for which I perform various types of legal work, including negotiating and drafting settlement, preparing operating agreements and partnership agreements, assisting in moving companies to incorporate in new states and setting up companies to become registered in a state, assisting with employment matters, drafting non-disclosure agreements, assisting with private placement offerings, and researching issues on intellectual property, local regulations, privacy laws, corporate governance, and many other facets of the law, as the need arises. I have previously practiced as an attorney at a small DC securities law firm and worked at Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLC. My work experience is dynamic and includes many short-term and long term experience that span across areas such as maintaining my own blog, freelance writing, and dog walking. My diverse background has provided me with a stong skill set that can be easily adapted for new areas of work and indicates my ability to quickly learn for a wide array of clients.
Jaime H.
20 years experienced attorney. Practice areas LLC & Corp/Deeds/ Contracts/Wills Trusts/
"Todd was excellent. Smart, responsive, fast, and accurate. Very pleased!"
January 4, 2022
Amy Sue L.
Ms. Leavens is a corporate attorney with 10 years of experience as the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary of a Congressionally chartered, non-profit corporation, and more than 20 years of experience as an advisor to executive officers and boards of directors in for-profit and non-profit organizations. She has substantial experience within in-house legal departments managing cross-functional teams comprised of multiple business units and attorneys on large-scale mission critical projects, and within a global law firm as a manager of public and private, domestic and international, multi-party business transactions. She has unique experience implementing government-sponsored business initiatives. Ms. Leavens was honored in 2015 as one of Washington, D.C.’s Top Corporate Counsel by Bisnow and the Association of Corporate Counsel; nominated in 2014 for the Association of Corporate Counsel (WMACCA) Outstanding Chief Legal Officer Award; and the recipient in 2014 of WMACCA’s Community Service Award.
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Browse Lawyers NowLawyer Reviews for Virginia Noncompete Agreement Projects
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"Excellent work and great communication. Thanks Ivan!"
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Employment
Noncompete Agreement
Connecticut
Noncompete agreement and change of control?
I recently accepted a new position with a company that has requested that I sign a noncompete agreement. I understand the agreement and the limitations it puts on me, but I am concerned about how the agreement would be affected if the company is sold or changes ownership in the future. I would like to understand my legal rights in the event of a change of control.
Thomas L.
If the future company buys the equity of your current employer, the Non-Compete continues in effect. If the future company buys the assets, the Non-Compete is terminated. I would request a sentence be added to the effect that "if there is a change of control of the Company (meaning more than 50% of the equity interest or 50% of the voting equity control) is sold or transferred, then this Non-Compete Agreement is terminated.
Business
Noncompete Agreement
Florida
Noncompete agreement and business partners?
I am a business owner who has recently acquired a new partner. We are in the process of drafting a Noncompete Agreement to ensure that neither of us will compete against each other in the same market. We are looking for advice on what should be included in the agreement and how it should be enforced.
Daniel D.
The one thing to make sure with noncompete agreements is that it is reasonable in terms of duration and the area you cannot compete in. Courts use a reasonableness test to determine whether a noncompete agreement is valid. If provisions are deemed to be unreasonable and fail the test, they could be altered or struck out of the agreement.
Employment
Noncompete Agreement
Washington
Noncompete agreement termination options?
I recently left my job after signing a Noncompete Agreement. I am looking for a new job, but I am concerned about the restrictions in the Noncompete Agreement and how it might affect my ability to find a new job. I am looking for advice on my options for terminating or modifying the Noncompete Agreement so that I can find a new job without having to worry about any potential legal repercussions.
Merry K.
I am a WA State employment attorney. If you didn’t receive anything in return for signing the non-compete, it may be relatively easy to get out of it. If, however, you signed in return for something, such as a severance package, it will be challenging to get out of the agreement. However, many non-compete agreements are written overly broadly and may not be enforceable under the laws of WA and other states. You may want to consult with a WA State employment attorney for a review of the documents and law(s) of the state(s) where you may want to work or set up a business. (A WA State attorney can only provide legal advice in WA, but can help you find applicable law/case decisions for other states but without providing anything beyond information, much like a law librarian).
Employment
Noncompete Agreement
New Jersey
Can I work for a competitor with my current noncompete?
I have ended my non competent consulting agreement with my current employee and I have an offer to work as an employer “not as consultant” with a competitor company to my privious employees so can I work as an employee without any problem? The consultant agreement says the following: Under any circumstances the consultant shall not engage directly or indirectly either as a principal agent , consultant,stock holder , partner or in any other capacity whatsoever have any other relationship with any business which compete with the company in USA.
Jane C.
I suggest that you have an attorney review the entire agreement. It is hard to comment reading a paragraph taken out of context. From the limited facts you present, it seems that you cannot accept this job offer without violating the terms of the non-compete. Disclaimer - This information is provided for general informational purposes only. No information contained in this post should be construed as legal advice and does not establish an attorney-client relationship.
Employment
Noncompete Agreement
Delaware
Employee contract, such as non compete/non solicit, could having this contract ever result in criminal/jail time?
If someone accuses you of fraud, because they believe you never had intended to honor your employment contract such as non-compete/non-solicit. Could this ever become a criminal case, resulting in criminal/jail time?
Matthew S.
No, at worst, it is a breach of a contract which is a civil matter to be handled in civil court.
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