A doctor will likely be asked by an employer to sign a non-compete agreement to prevent the doctor from competing with the employer post-employment. But a doctor may not closely scrutinize the restrictive terms of a non-compete agreement until the doctor finds a new opportunity and begins to plan an exit strategy.
Keith Clouse, a Dallas employment law attorney who frequently advises physicians, suggests that a doctor contemplating a career move contact an employment law attorney before resigning. An attorney can: determine if a non-compete agreement appears enforceable under Texas law, determine whether the restrictive terms appear reasonable and in compliance with the current Texas standard, and assess whether the doctor would be breaching the agreement by taking a particular job opportunity. If it appears that problems could arise, an attorney can attempt to avoid litigation by contacting the doctor’s employer and trying to reach a compromise that would satisfy both parties’ interests.
Mr. Clouse regularly advises physicians who are contemplating career moves. He helps doctors assess risks and determine the best courses of action. To speak to Mr. Clouse or to another employment lawyer, please contact the Dallas employment lawyers at Clouse Dunn Khoshbin LLP at info@cdklawyers.com.