Restrictive Agreement: Definition, Terms, Example
Jump to Section
What is a Restrictive Agreement?
A restrictive agreement, or restrictive covenant, is a legal contract between two or more parties that restricts one or more of the parties from engaging in certain activities. These agreements are often used to protect trade secrets, businesses interests, and other confidential information. Parties who violate a restrictive covenant can be held liable for damages. If you are considering entering into a restrictive covenant with another party, it is important to consult with an attorney to ensure the agreement is enforceable.
Common Sections in Restrictive Agreements
Below is a list of common sections included in Restrictive Agreements. These sections are linked to the below sample agreement for you to explore.
Restrictive Agreement Sample
EXHIBIT NO. 10.40 – AGREEMENT REGARDING POST-EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIVE
COVENANTS BETWEEN MAF BANCORP, INC. AND THOMAS R. PERZ
APPENDIX A TO PERZ EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT REGARDING POST-
EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
THIS AGREEMENT made effective as of December 1, 2003, by and between MAF Bancorp, Inc. (“Purchaser”) and Thomas R. Perz (“Executive”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Purchaser and its affiliates are engaged in depository, lending and other financial services businesses (the “Business”);
WHEREAS, Executive has expertise, experience and capability in the Business;
WHEREAS, Purchaser has invested significant amounts in the acquisition of all of the stock of St. Francis Capital Corporation;
WHEREAS, Executive has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Francis Capital Corporation and its subsidiaries and will be serving Purchaser and Mid America Bank, fsb (the “Bank”) in the capacity set forth on the signature page hereof;
WHEREAS, Purchaser desires to enter into this Agreement to obtain Executive’s agreements regarding confidentiality and post-employment restrictive covenants for Purchaser, the Bank, and/or subsidiaries (Purchaser, the Bank and/or subsidiaries hereinafter “Purchaser or its affiliates”) in return for the payments set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, Executive is willing to provide such agreements to Purchaser and the Bank.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which consideration is mutually acknowledged by the parties, it is hereby agreed as follows:
1. Recitals.
The recitals hereinbefore set forth constitute an integral part of this Agreement, evidencing the intent of the parties in executing this Agreement, and describing the circumstances surrounding its execution. Said recitals are by express reference made a part of the covenants hereof, and this Agreement shall be construed in light thereof.
2. Confidential Information.
Executive acknowledges that during the course of his employment he has learned or will learn or develop Confidential Information (as that term is defined in this Section 2). Executive further acknowledges that unauthorized disclosure or use of such Confidential Information, other than in discharge of Executive’s duties, will cause Purchaser or its affiliates irreparable harm.
2
For purposes of this Section, Confidential Information means trade secrets (such as technical and non-technical data, a program, method, technique, process) and other confidential or proprietary information concerning the products, processes, services, or customers of Purchaser or its affiliates, including but not limited to: computer programs; marketing, or organizational research and development; business plans; revenue forecasts; personnel information, including the identity of other employees of Purchaser or its affiliates, their responsibilities, competence, abilities, and compensation; pricing and financial information; current and prospective customer lists and information on customers or their employees; information concerning planned or pending acquisitions or divestitures; and information concerning purchases of major equipment or property, which information: (a) has not been made generally available to the public; and (b) is useful or of value to the current or anticipated business, or research or development activities of Purchaser or its affiliates; or (c) has been identified to Executive as confidential by Purchaser or its affiliates, either orally or in writing.
Except in the course of his employment and in the pursuit of the business of Purchaser or its affiliates, Executive shall not, during the course of his employment, or following termination of his employment for any reason, directly or indirectly, disclose, publish, communicate or use on his behalf or another’s behalf, any Confidential Information, proprietary information or other data of Purchaser or its affiliates.
Executive acknowledges that as to certain aspects of its business, Purchaser and its affiliates operate and compete throughout the Chicagoland and Milwaukee areas and that Purchaser or its affiliates will be harmed by unauthorized disclosure or use of Confidential Information regardless of where such disclosure or use occurs, and that therefore this confidentiality agreement is not limited to any single state or other jurisdiction.
3. Non-Competition.
During the term of his employment and service on the Board of Directors of the Purchaser and Bank and for the period ending twenty-four (24) months following the date the Executive ceases all such service (the “Non-Compete Period”), the Executive shall not, in the Territory (except in his capacity as an employee or director of Purchaser or a Purchaser affiliate), (a) engage or participate in the Business, (b) enter the employ of, or render any services to, any person or entity engaged in the Business or competitive with Purchaser or its affiliates, (c) engage or participate in, be employed by or render services to any person or entity engaged in the depository, lending or other activities constituting the Business, or (d) directly or indirectly become interested in any person or entity referred to in clauses (b) and (c) above in any capacity, including without limitation, as an individual, partner, shareholder, lender, officer, director, principal, agent or trustee; provided, however, that the Executive may own, directly or indirectly, solely as an investment, securities of any publicly-traded entity if Executive is not a controlling person of such entity, or a member of a group which controls such entity and Executive does not own more than 5% of any class of equity securities of such entity.
“Territory” for purposes hereof shall mean those communities in which Purchaser or any of its affiliates has a financial institution or a branch thereof, or has filed an application for regulatory approval to establish a financial institution or branch (whether de novo or by acquisition), together with those communities which are within a 25 mile radius of any such
3
financial institutions or branches. As of the date payment to Executive commences pursuant to Section 7 below, the “Territory” shall become fixed, and shall not be expanded as a result of any additional communities in which Purchaser or any of its affiliates may establish a financial institution or branch.
4. Inducement of Employees and Customers.
During the Non-Compete Period, Executive will not directly or indirectly solicit, induce or encourage any person or entity who, as of the date immediately preceding the date of the termination of Executive’s employment, is an employee or customer of Purchaser or any of its affiliates, to terminate his or her or its relationship with Purchaser or its affiliates.
5. Return of Purchaser’s Property.
All notes, reports, plans, published memoranda or other documents created, developed, generated or held by Executive during employment, concerning or related to Purchaser’s or its affiliates’ business, and whether containing or relating to Confidential Information or not, are the property of Purchaser or its affiliates and will be promptly delivered to Purchaser or its affiliates upon termination of Executive’s employment for any reason whatsoever.
6. Remedies.
Executive acknowledges that the restraints and agreements herein provided are fair and reasonable, that enforcement of the provisions of Sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 will not cause him undue hardship and that said provisions are reasonably necessary and commensurate with the need to protect Purchaser or its affiliates and its legitimate and proprietary business interests and property from irreparable harm.
Executive acknowledges that failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement will cause irreparable damage to Purchaser or its affiliates. Therefore, Executive agrees that, in addition to any other remedies at law or in equity available to Purchaser or its affiliates for Executive’s breach (other than Executive’s inadvertent breach which is promptly cured upon notice from Purchaser) or threatened breach of this Agreement, Purchaser or its affiliates is entitled to specific performance or injunctive relief, without bond, against Executive to prevent such damage or breach, and the existence of any claim or cause of action Executive may have against Purchaser will not constitute a defense thereto. Executive further agrees to pay reasonable attorney fees and costs of litigation incurred by Purchaser or its affiliates in any proceeding relating to the enforcement of the Agreement or to any alleged breach (other than Executive’s inadvertent breach which is promptly cured upon notice from Purchaser) thereof in which Purchaser or its affiliates prevail in full as determined by a final order entered in such action.
In the event of a breach or a violation by Executive of any of the covenants and provisions of this Agreement, the running of the Non-Compete Period (but not of Executive’s obligation thereunder), shall be tolled during the period of the continuance of any actual breach or violation.
4
7. Payments to Executive.
In consideration of Executive’s agreements hereunder, Purchaser shall pay, or shall cause the Bank or one of its affiliates to pay to Executive, twenty-four (24) equal monthly payments in the amount set forth on the signature page hereof. The first payment shall be payable as of the first day of the month following the cessation of Executive’s service as a director of the Purchaser and Bank, with each subsequent payment due on the first day of each month thereafter until all twenty-four (24) payments have been made. In the event of the Executive’s death, the twenty-four (24) monthly payments, or if payments had commenced, the remaining monthly payments, shall continue to the beneficiary designated by the Executive in writing filed with Purchaser, until twenty-four (24) payments are made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event Executive’s cessation of service is due to termination for “Cause” as defined in an employment agreement between the Executive and the Company or the Bank, Executive shall remain subject to his obligations hereunder, but no payments shall be due or payable under this Section 7. All payments hereunder shall be subject to applicable withholding requirements.
8. Entire Understanding.
This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties relating to Executive’s restrictions on Executive’s post-employment services and supersedes and cancels all prior written and oral understandings and agreements with respect to such matters.
9. Binding Effect.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Purchaser and its successors and Executive and his successors and assigns. Purchaser shall each require any successor or assignee, whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, expressly and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform Purchaser’s obligations under this Agreement, in the same manner and to the same extent that Purchaser would be required to perform if no such succession or assignment had taken place.
10. Partial Invalidity.
The various provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable and to constitute independent and distinct binding obligations. Should any provision of this Agreement be determined to be void and unenforceable, in whole or in part, it shall not be deemed to affect or impair the validity of any other provision or part thereof, and such provision or part thereof shall be deemed modified to the extent required to permit enforcement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the scope of any provision contained in this Agreement is too broad to permit enforcement to its full extent, but may be made enforceable by limitations thereon, such provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law, and Executive hereby agrees that such scope may be judicially modified accordingly.
5
11. Strict Construction.
The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by Purchaser and Executive to express their mutual intent and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any person.
12. Waiver.
The waiver of any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by any other party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.
13. Notices.
Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be determined to have been duly given to any party (a) upon delivery to the address of such party specified on the signature page hereof if delivered personally or by courier; (b) upon dispatch if transmitted by telecopy or other means of facsimile, provided a copy thereof is also sent by regular mail or courier; or (c) within forty-eight (48) hours after deposit thereof in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, for delivery as certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed, in any case to the party at the address(es) or telecopy numbers set forth on the signature page hereof or to such other address(es) or telecopy number(s) as any party may designate by Written Notice in the aforesaid manner.
14. Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted, construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Illinois.
15. Gender and Number.
Wherever from the context it appears appropriate, each term stated in either the singular of plural shall include the singular and the plural, and the pronouns stated in either the masculine, the feminine or the neuter gender shall include the masculine, feminine or neuter.
16. Headings.
The headings of the Sections of this Agreement are for reference purposes only and do not define or limit, and shall not be used to interpret or construe the contents of this Agreement.
6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed at Chicago, Illinois, on the date above set forth.
| MAF BANCORP, INC. | ||
| By: |
/s/ Allen H. Koranda | |
| Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ||
| EXECUTIVE |
| /s/ Thomas R. Perz |
| Thomas R. Perz Managing Director of Company and Bank |
Monthly amount payable under Paragraph 7: $15,000
7
Reference:
Security Exchange Commission - Edgar Database, EX-10.40 13 dex1040.htm RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AGREEMENT, Viewed April 22, 2022, View Source on SEC.
Who Helps With Restrictive Agreements?
Lawyers with backgrounds working on restrictive agreements work with clients to help. Do you need help with a restrictive agreement?
Post a project in ContractsCounsel's marketplace to get free bids from lawyers to draft, review, or negotiate restrictive agreements. All lawyers are vetted by our team and peer reviewed by our customers for you to explore before hiring.
ContractsCounsel is not a law firm, and this post should not be considered and does not contain legal advice. To ensure the information and advice in this post are correct, sufficient, and appropriate for your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Also, using or accessing ContractsCounsel's site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and ContractsCounsel.
Meet some of our Restrictive Agreement Lawyers
Adrienne H.
Senior Corporate Attorney with extensive experience across diverse law firms, specializing in M&A transactions, commercial contracts, and corporate governance. Proven ability in risk mitigation and forming strategic partnerships, leveraging strong analytical skills to achieve successful outcomes. Recognized for high productivity and efficient task management. Expertise in critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication that enhances navigation of complex legal issues for clients.
Joe S.
I am a Connecticut-licensed attorney and transaction advisor with extensive experience in middle-market mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and complex deal structuring. As the principal of Amirext LLC, I serve as lead counsel and strategic advisor to founders, boards, and investors, often working at the intersection of legal, financial, and operational decision-making.
"Joe was responsive, communicative and a real advocate for me. He was thorough with the work, and managed expectations very clearly. I would 100% hire Joe again, and may do so very soon."
Harry N.
Experienced business advisor and in-house counsel with extensive litigation experience, representing parties in a variety of complex commercial disputes, including securities, financial fraud, contract, and antitrust litigation.
"Harry has been sharp, responsive, and straight with me. He reviewed my waivers and then flagged several issues in my other agreements that were bigger than what I hired him for, instead of just doing the narrow job and moving on. He explained the risks clearly, told me what to hold on and why, and structured a fixed-fee scope that worked with my cash flow rather than pushing me into a monthly plan I wasn't ready for. He also brought in outside specialist counsel where it made sense instead of stretching past his own expertise. Easy to recommend."
Jehan C.
Experience business, estate and intellectual property attorney ready to serve entrepreneurs and creatives in all 50 state and those that have wills and estate planning needs in the District of Columbia.
"Jehan was responsive, spent time understanding the issue and provided a solution. Thank you."
November 7, 2025
kresimir p.
Kresimir Peharda is a corporate and M&A attorney. His clients benefit from his experience representing public companies and hands-on operational experience in three start-ups, two in healthcare and one in real estate. Kresimir has assisted his public clients in IPOs, spin-offs, going private transactions, SEC compliance, corporate governance, corporate reorganizations and complex financing transactions. He advises early stage and middle market companies on contracts, equity compensation, debt and equity financing, mergers and acquisitions, and shareholder matters.
Sean W.
Sean is an accomplished legal counsel with more than 10 years of experience providing assistance to individuals and companies of different sizes, from startups to Fortune 500s. He has been involved with various industries including biotechnology, consulting, healthcare, finance, hospitals, industrial manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, retail, software, and sports. He has been a key legal advisor and strategic business partner to senior leaders and stakeholder management, advising on a broad range of legal, contractual, corporate, and regulatory compliance matters on behalf of leading organizations in the U.S. and abroad.
November 22, 2025
Corey P.
I represent developers, investors, homebuilders, and hospitality brands in complex real estate transactions spanning the full life cycle of asset ownership—from acquisition and financing to development, leasing, management, and disposition—across a wide range of asset classes, including vacant land, residential communities, hospitality, multifamily, office, and mixed-use projects. Clients rely on me for practical guidance and efficient deal management. Beyond transactional work, I assist hospitality brands and real estate brokerages with regulatory compliance, advising on timeshare, condominium, community association, and brokerage licensing laws. My approach is rooted in understanding each client’s business and strategic goals. I help move deals forward by anticipating risks, identifying solutions, and serving as a collaborative partner as clients build, expand, and manage their real estate portfolios. My aim is to serve not just as outside counsel, but as a trusted advisor who supports clients in executing their vision and strengthening the long-term value of their assets.
Find the best lawyer for your project
Browse Lawyers Now
Quick, user friendly and one of the better ways I've come across to get ahold of lawyers willing to take new clients.
View Trustpilot ReviewHow It Works
Business lawyers by top cities
- Austin Business Lawyers
- Boston Business Lawyers
- Chicago Business Lawyers
- Dallas Business Lawyers
- Denver Business Lawyers
- Houston Business Lawyers
- Los Angeles Business Lawyers
- New York Business Lawyers
- Phoenix Business Lawyers
- San Diego Business Lawyers
- Tampa Business Lawyers
Restrictive Agreement lawyers by city
- Austin Restrictive Agreement Lawyers
- Boston Restrictive Agreement Lawyers
- Chicago Restrictive Agreement Lawyers
- Dallas Restrictive Agreement Lawyers
- Denver Restrictive Agreement Lawyers
- Houston Restrictive Agreement Lawyers
- Los Angeles Restrictive Agreement Lawyers
- New York Restrictive Agreement Lawyers
- Phoenix Restrictive Agreement Lawyers
- San Diego Restrictive Agreement Lawyers
- Tampa Restrictive Agreement Lawyers
Contracts Counsel was incredibly helpful and easy to use. I submitted a project for a lawyer's help within a day I had received over 6 proposals from qualified lawyers. I submitted a bid that works best for my business and we went forward with the project.
View Trustpilot Review
I never knew how difficult it was to obtain representation or a lawyer, and ContractsCounsel was EXACTLY the type of service I was hoping for when I was in a pinch. Working with their service was efficient, effective and made me feel in control. Thank you so much and should I ever need attorney services down the road, I'll certainly be a repeat customer.
View Trustpilot Review
I got 5 bids within 24h of posting my project. I choose the person who provided the most detailed and relevant intro letter, highlighting their experience relevant to my project. I am very satisfied with the outcome and quality of the two agreements that were produced, they actually far exceed my expectations.
View Trustpilot Review