Holland & Knight Derails Strategy of Suing First to Declare Non-Compete Illegal

Litigation and Dispute Resolution attorneys Matthew Zimmerman and David Cannella were mentioned in a Daily Business Review article about a case citing the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) recently proposed rule banning non-competes. Mr. Zimmerman and Mr. Canella represent USI Insurance Services, the defendant and counter claimant in the case, in which former USI employees are suing the company and claiming the FTC proposed rule makes their own non-compete agreements illegal. Mr. Zimmerman explained how the Holland & Knight team assisting USI was able to successfully push back against these claims in Tampa federal court and counter the strategy of suing first to declare an agreement illegal.

"Florida courts will enforce reasonable restrictions to support legitimate business interests," Mr. Zimmerman said. "We kept our requests simple and fair, focusing on the language of the contracts and holding the former USI employees to their promises not to solicit or service the clients they worked with at USI." 

READ: Holland & Knight Derails Strategy of Suing First to Declare Non-Compete Illegal (Subscription required)