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OpenAgreements Employee Restrictive Covenant (Wyoming)

CC BY 4.0 · OpenAgreements v2.0 · Drafter's starting point

Cover Terms

The terms below are incorporated into and form part of this agreement.

Term Value
Employer [Employer Name]
Employee [Employee Name]
Employee Title / Position [Employee Title]
Effective Date [Effective Date]
Confidentiality
Confidentiality — Trade Secrets Duration [Confidentiality Trade Secret Duration]
Confidentiality — Other Confidential Information Duration [Confidentiality Other Duration]
Employee Non-Solicitation
Employee Non-Solicitation — Duration [Employee Nonsolicit Duration]
Customer Non-Solicitation
Customer Non-Solicitation — Duration [Customer Nonsolicit Duration]
Non-Competition
Non-Competition — Duration [Noncompete Duration]
Non-Competition — Restricted Territory [Territory]
Non-Competition — Competitive Business [Competitive Business Definition]
Non-Competition — Specified Competitors [Specified Competitors]
No Business with Covered Customers
No Business with Covered Customers — Duration [Nondealing Duration]
Non-Investment
Non-Investment — Duration [Noninvestment Duration]
Non-Disparagement
Non-Disparagement — Duration [Nondisparagement Duration]

1. Defined Terms

1.1 “Competitive Business” means the business activities described in Cover Terms under Competitive Business.

1.2 “Confidential Information” means non-public information relating to Employer’s business, including trade secrets, customer lists, pricing, business processes, technical data, and strategic plans, but excluding information that becomes public through no fault of Employee.

1.3 “Covered Customers” means customers, vendors, referral sources, and business partners with whom Employee had material contact or for whom Employee had responsibility during the [Covered Customer Period] before termination of employment.

1.4 “Covered Employees” means employees with whom Employee worked or whom Employee managed during the [Covered Employee Period] before termination of employment.

1.5 “Passive Public Holdings” means ownership of securities of a publicly traded company representing less than [Passive Public Holdings Threshold] of any class of such company’s securities, and interests in diversified mutual funds, index funds, and exchange-traded funds that may hold securities of a Competitive Business.

1.6 “Protected Interests” means Employer’s legitimate business interests in its Confidential Information, customer and business-partner relationships, workforce stability, and goodwill.

1.7 “Restricted Period” means the duration specified in Cover Terms for each covenant, beginning on the date Employee’s employment with Employer ends for any reason.

1.8 “Restricted Territory” means the geographic area described in Cover Terms under Restricted Territory.

1.9 “Solicit” means to directly or indirectly contact, approach, induce, encourage, or provide Confidential Information to any person or entity for the purpose of diverting business away from Employer, but does not include responding to general advertisements or unsolicited inquiries not initiated by Employee.

1.10 “Trade Secrets” has the meaning given in Wyo. Stat. § 6-3-501(a)(xi).

2. Timing and Employee Acknowledgements

Employee acknowledges that the restrictions in this agreement are reasonable and necessary to protect Employer’s Protected Interests. Employee acknowledges having had the opportunity to consult with independent legal counsel before signing this agreement. This agreement is effective as of the Effective Date listed in Cover Terms.

Drafting Note · Ensuring Compliance With Prospective Wyoming Statutory Notice And Disclosure Requirements · 3 firms

Wyoming's recent noncompete legislation necessitates careful timing of agreement execution to ensure prospective compliance with new statutory notice standards (Ogletree Deakins). Employers should document that employees received adequate time to review terms and consult counsel to mitigate risks of total invalidation by courts (Littler Mendelson). Given the ambiguity surrounding the scope of restrictive covenants under the new law, establishing a clear record of these acknowledgments is essential for enforceability (Fisher Phillips).

Practice Note →

3. Confidential Information and Trade Secret Protection

Employee must treat all Confidential Information as strictly confidential. Employee must not use or disclose Confidential Information except as required to perform authorized job duties or with Employer’s prior written consent. Employee’s obligations regarding trade secrets continue in perpetuity. Employee’s obligations regarding other Confidential Information continue for the period specified in Cover Terms. Trade secrets are protected under Wyoming law, including Wyo. Stat. § 6-3-501(a)(xi).

Drafting Note · Defining Scope Of Confidential Information To Align With Wyoming Trade Secret Protections · 3 firms

Wyoming law incorporates the statutory definition of trade secrets under Wyo. Stat. § 6-3-501(a)(xi), which provides a broad framework for protecting proprietary business information (Littler Mendelson). Aligning contractual definitions with this statute helps mitigate risks associated with the state's evolving restrictive covenant landscape (Fisher Phillips). Employers should ensure that confidentiality obligations are narrowly tailored to protect legitimate business interests to avoid potential invalidation by courts (Foley & Lardner).

Practice Note →

4. Permitted Disclosures and Protected Conduct

Nothing in this agreement prohibits Employee from: (a) reporting possible violations of law to any government agency, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or any other federal, state, or local agency; (b) making disclosures protected under whistleblower provisions of any law; (c) discussing wages, hours, or other terms and conditions of employment as protected by applicable law; (d) testifying truthfully in legal proceedings; or (e) filing a sealed complaint in court using Confidential Information without liability. Pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. § 1833(b)), Employee may not be held criminally or civilly liable for disclosing a trade secret in confidence to a government official or attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or in a sealed court filing.

Drafting Note · Whistleblower Protections And Federal Regulatory Compliance Under Wyoming Employment Law · 3 firms

Federal law and the Defend Trade Secrets Act mandate that restrictive covenants cannot impede an employee's right to report potential legal violations to government agencies (Foley & Lardner). Integrating these carve-outs ensures compliance with evolving federal antitrust scrutiny and prevents agreements from being viewed as unfair methods of competition (Vinson & Elkins). These provisions are essential for maintaining the enforceability of restrictive covenants within the current Wyoming regulatory framework (Littler Mendelson).

Practice Note →

5. Return, Deletion, and Certification of Company Property

Upon termination of employment, Employee must promptly return to Employer all documents, devices, files, credentials, and other materials containing or relating to Confidential Information. Where permitted, Employee must permanently delete electronic copies of Confidential Information from personal devices and accounts. Employee must certify compliance with this section in writing upon Employer’s request.

6. Non-Solicitation of Employees

During the Restricted Period, Employee must not Solicit, recruit, hire, or attempt to hire any Covered Employee. This restriction does not prohibit Employee from providing a professional reference upon request or from hiring a person who responds to a general advertisement not directed specifically at Employer’s employees.

7. Non-Solicitation of Customers, Vendors, Referral Sources, and Business Partners

During the Restricted Period, Employee must not Solicit the business of any Covered Customer. Practitioner sources flag uncertainty about whether Wyo. Stat. § 1-23-108 could reach certain non-solicitation provisions depending on how they function.

Drafting Note · Tailoring Non-Solicitation Provisions to Protect Legitimate Wyoming Business Interests · 3 firms

Wyoming law requires restrictive covenants to be narrowly tailored to protect specific legitimate business interests, such as goodwill and trade secrets, to avoid judicial invalidation (Littler Mendelson). Ambiguities regarding the scope of non-solicitation provisions under recent statutory changes necessitate precise drafting to ensure enforceability (Fisher Phillips). Employers should ensure these restrictions are limited to customers with whom the employee had material contact to align with evolving state-level scrutiny (Foley & Lardner).

Practice Note →

8. No Business with Covered Customers

During the Restricted Period, Employee must not accept, service, or do business with any Covered Customer, regardless of whether Employee or the Covered Customer first initiated contact. This restriction is broader than non-solicitation because it applies even if the Covered Customer approaches Employee. If the Cover Terms indicate that this restriction applies, it requires a lawful restriction pathway under Wyo. Stat. § 1-23-108.

9. Non-Competition

During the Restricted Period, Employee must not engage in, be employed by, consult for, or have an active ownership interest in any Competitive Business within the Restricted Territory. This covenant is included only because the restriction pathway specified by Employer supports its enforceability under Wyo. Stat. § 1-23-108. Passive Public Holdings are permitted.

Drafting Note · Drafting Enforceable Non-Competition Agreements Under New Wyoming Statutory Requirements · 3 firms

Wyoming's new non-compete legislation mandates that restrictive covenants be narrowly tailored to protect legitimate business interests, as courts may void noncompliant agreements in their entirety rather than modifying them (Ogletree Deakins). Employers must navigate significant ambiguities regarding the scope of executive and management personnel exceptions while ensuring compliance with the state's specific statutory framework (Fisher Phillips). Future litigation is expected to clarify the reach of these provisions, particularly concerning the intersection of non-solicitation clauses and trade secret protections (Littler Mendelson).

Practice Note →

10. Non-Investment

During the Restricted Period, Employee must not acquire or hold any active ownership interest in, serve as a director, officer, manager, or advisor to, or have material economic participation in any Competitive Business. This restriction primarily targets active or material ownership in private competitors. Passive Public Holdings are permitted. This covenant requires a lawful restriction pathway under Wyo. Stat. § 1-23-108.

11. Non-Disparagement

During the Restricted Period specified in Cover Terms for Non-Disparagement, Employee must not make statements that are intended to or reasonably likely to disparage Employer, its officers, directors, employees, products, or services. This section does not restrict Employee from making truthful statements in legal proceedings, providing truthful testimony, making disclosures to government agencies, or exercising rights protected by law.

12. Physician-Specific Rights and Notices

If Employee is a physician, then notwithstanding any other provision of this agreement, Wyo. Stat. § 1-23-108(b) preserves other enforceable provisions of this agreement even if a non-compete provision is void. A physician Employee with patients diagnosed with rare disorders (as defined by the National Organization for Rare Disorders) may notify those patients of their new practice location without liability under this agreement.

Drafting Note · Wyoming Statutory Carve-Outs For Physician Restrictive Covenants And Patient Continuity · 3 firms

Wyoming law mandates specific protections for medical professionals, ensuring that non-compete invalidity does not automatically void other enforceable contractual provisions (Littler Mendelson). These statutory requirements also preserve the right of physicians treating patients with rare disorders to provide notice of a new practice location without incurring liability (Fisher Phillips). Employers must carefully align these provisions with the state's evolving regulatory framework to ensure compliance and enforceability (Ogletree Deakins).

Practice Note →

13. No Conflicting Obligations

Employee represents that performing duties for Employer and complying with this agreement does not conflict with any prior agreement, court order, or legal obligation binding on Employee. Employee must promptly disclose to Employer any potential conflict that arises during employment.

14. Notice to Future Employers and Other Third Parties

Employer may disclose the existence and terms of this agreement to any prospective employer or business associate of Employee if Employer has a reasonable belief that Employee may breach this agreement. Employee consents to this disclosure.

15. Tolling During Breach

If Employee breaches any restrictive covenant in this agreement, the Restricted Period for that covenant is extended by one day for each day of the breach, so that the full duration of the restriction runs from the date the breach ends.

Drafting Note · Drafting Enforceable Tolling Provisions For Breach Periods Under Wyoming Law · 3 firms

Wyoming courts may strictly scrutinize restrictive covenants, necessitating that tolling provisions be narrowly tailored to ensure they do not function as unreasonable extensions of the restricted period (Fisher Phillips). Because Wyoming law now emphasizes specific statutory exceptions for non-compete enforceability, any tolling mechanism must be clearly defined to avoid being viewed as an overbroad restraint on trade (Littler Mendelson). Employers should ensure these provisions are supported by legitimate business interests to mitigate the risk of total invalidation by the courts (Ogletree Deakins).

Practice Note →

16. Remedies

Employee acknowledges that a breach of this agreement may cause Employer irreparable harm for which money damages would be inadequate. Employer may seek injunctive or other equitable relief in addition to any other remedies available at law. If Employer prevails in any action to enforce this agreement, Employee must reimburse Employer’s reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. Employer does not ask any court to modify, reform, or rewrite any provision of this agreement.

Drafting Note · Aligning Injunctive Relief Provisions With Wyoming Statutory Enforcement Standards · 3 firms

Wyoming courts have demonstrated a heightened tendency to invalidate restrictive covenants in their entirety rather than reforming overbroad provisions, necessitating precise drafting of equitable relief clauses (Ogletree Deakins). Because the state's new noncompete legislation creates significant ambiguity regarding the scope of enforceable restrictions, injunctive relief language must be narrowly tailored to protect only legitimate business interests to avoid judicial scrutiny (Littler Mendelson; Fisher Phillips).

Practice Note →

17. Enforceability, Severability, and No Reformation Request

If any provision of this agreement is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full force and effect. Consistent with Hassler v. Circle C Resources, 2022 WY 28, Employer acknowledges that Wyoming courts may decline to reform overbroad restrictive covenants and may instead void them entirely. Accordingly, this agreement does not include a reformation clause and does not request that any court rewrite its terms. Each restrictive covenant in this agreement is intended to be independently enforceable.

Drafting Note · Wyoming Judicial Standards Regarding Restrictive Covenant Severability And Reformation Risk Factors · 3 firms

Wyoming courts have demonstrated an increasing reluctance to reform overbroad restrictive covenants, often opting to void noncompliant agreements in their entirety rather than applying blue-penciling (Ogletree Deakins). This provision acknowledges that judicial refusal to rewrite terms necessitates a focus on independent enforceability for each covenant to mitigate the risk of total invalidation (Littler Mendelson). Employers should ensure that all restrictions are narrowly tailored to protect legitimate business interests, as ambiguities in the new statutory framework may lead to strict judicial scrutiny (Fisher Phillips).

Practice Note →

18. Survival and Expiration of Each Covenant

Each restrictive covenant in this agreement survives the termination of Employee’s employment for the Restricted Period specified in Cover Terms. Obligations under the Confidential Information and Trade Secret Protection section survive indefinitely to the extent they relate to trade secrets. All other provisions survive to the extent necessary to enforce rights that arose during employment.

19. Assignment and Successors

Employee may not assign this agreement or any rights or obligations under it. Employer may assign this agreement to any affiliate, successor, or acquirer of all or substantially all of Employer’s business or assets. This agreement is binding on and inures to the benefit of the parties and their respective heirs, successors, and permitted assigns.

20. Governing Law, Venue, and Dispute Process

This agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Wyoming, including Wyo. Stat. § 1-23-108 for contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2025. Disputes will be resolved in the state and federal courts located in Wyoming, subject to non-waivable rights under applicable law.

Drafting Note · Wyoming Statutory Requirements For Governing Law And Venue Selection Clauses · 3 firms

Wyoming law mandates that restrictive covenants align with specific statutory frameworks to ensure enforceability under the state's evolving non-compete legislation (Fisher Phillips). Selecting Wyoming as the exclusive venue minimizes the risk of conflicting judicial interpretations and ensures that disputes are adjudicated within the jurisdiction where the employment relationship is centered (Littler Mendelson). This approach mitigates the potential for external courts to apply broader, non-compliant standards to the agreement's restrictive provisions (Ogletree Deakins).

Practice Note →

21. Entire Agreement, Amendment, Waiver, and Electronic Signatures

This agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties regarding its subject matter and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, and negotiations on this subject. This agreement may be amended only in writing signed by both parties. A party’s failure to enforce any provision does not waive that party’s right to enforce it later. This agreement may be executed in counterparts, including by electronic signature, each of which is an original.

Signatures

By signing this agreement, each party acknowledges and agrees to the restrictive covenant obligations above. Employee confirms having read and understood each provision, including the Cover Terms.

Employer

Company: [Employer Name] Signature:

Print Name:

Title:

Date:

Employee

Signature:

Print Name: [Employee Name]

Date:

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