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Employment Law
Post-termination restrictions
If your employment contract contains restrictive clauses, you’ll need expert legal advice to ensure they aren’t too strict – we can help.
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Protecting your career and future opportunities
Get clarity on restrictions that could affect your next move
Employment contracts often include post-termination restrictions, especially for senior executives. Sometimes, these restrictions appear in separate sections, but sometimes, they are hidden in the main body of the contract. No matter where they appear, they aim to restrict your activities should you leave your job – and you need to get professional advice to ensure they aren’t too restrictive.
What your employer can, and cannot, do
Many employers would say it’s reasonable to have some form of restrictive covenant in place for key employees. It’s a valid argument, but the restrictions may be overly complex or too vague to be enforceable. If they are enforceable, however, the risks could be significant to you. If you breach the term then you could face a claim for damage or a High Court injunction. In any case, a solicitor well versed in every aspect employment law will help you make sense of this often complex issue.
"Very good knowledge of the law. Practical advice given in client friendly and appropriate terms." Legal 500 2026
Protecting your interests when restrictions apply
We regularly work on cases involving restrictive covenants and their enforceability. We advise both employers and employees, up to and including High Court proceedings. We understand the situation from both perspectives, which gives us a unique perspective when it comes to advising you and suggesting the best way forward.
Every case is different, so our advice is tailored to you and your situation. But the sort of issues we deal with most commonly include:
- Whether the restrictions are reasonable or enforceable
- What the restrictions prevent or allow
- Advising you on restrictions going into new employment
- Negotiating clauses for you
Support when your employer enforces restrictions
Should it get to point where a former employer decides to act on one of the restrictions, we’ll do all we can to support you. This might include:
- Defending proceedings brought against you for breaching your post-termination restrictions
- Advising you on the types of restrictive covenants your employer is looking to enforce or get you to agree to
- Helping you to negotiate less restrictive covenants
While it’s important you negotiate covenants at the start of employment, you also need clear advice when it ends. Whatever stage you are at we will provide you with clear, prompt advice with total transparency regarding costs.
We’ll give you our expert legal opinion based on the facts of the case and what you want to achieve. You can be confident that we’ll always be open and honest with you, so you’ll always know exactly where you stand.
Legal and financial advice under one roof
Tees is a top-tier Legal 500 firm offering joined-up legal and financial services. We have our own independent financial advisers (IFAs), who work closely with our lawyers.
Our advisers provide holistic financial planning and as we are not connected to any one provider, we can offer a whole-of-market approach for the range of products we can advise on. We can also give independent advice for a whole range of insurance products to protect you and your family. Our IFAs are regulated and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, which means we’re accountable for the advice we give.
Get in touch today, we’re here to help
If you’re a senior executive considering your next career move, post-termination restrictions can affect what you’re able to do after leaving your role. Our employment lawyers provide clear, commercially focused advice to help you understand your rights and protect your future opportunities.
We can advise on whether restrictions are enforceable, negotiate with your employer or former employer, and defend you if they take action to enforce them.
We have offices across Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire, but we can help you wherever you are in England and Wales.
Our experience in post-termination restrictions
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What our clients say
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“I had a separation agreement from my employer for which I needed prompt legal assistance, as I had a deadline of ~48 hours. After I contacted Tees, Ola called me almost immediately. She worked quickly and she was thorough and courteous with her advice towards me and her communication with my employer.”
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“Katherine Jameson has a great strategic mind and is always thinking three steps ahead. She is always across her brief and has considered every aspect of every case she is working on. A safe pair of hands.”
Legal 500 2026
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