UPDATE: On June 20, 2023, the New York State Assembly also voted in favor of this legislation, and the Bill is now headed to Governor Hochul. If signed by Governor Hochul, New York would become the fifth state to institute a broad ban of non-compete agreements (after California, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Minnesota). The Bill would become effective 30 days after being signed into law. Please stay tuned for further updates on this quickly changing landscape in New York.

On June 7, 2023, the New York State Senate passed Bill No. S03100 (the “Bill”), which would impose a blanket ban on employee non-competition agreements in New York.

The Bill defines a “non-compete agreement” as:

any agreement, or clause contained in any agreement, between an employer and a covered individual that prohibits or restricts such covered individual from obtaining employment, after the conclusion of employment with the employer included as a party to the agreement.

The Bill provides a private right of action for individuals who are subject to a prohibited non-compete, against an employer that “seek[s], require[s], demand[s], or accept[s] a non-compete from any covered individual,” and courts can order injunctive relief, liquidated damages up to $10 thousand per violation, and compensatory damages, including lost compensation and attorneys’ fees and costs.

The Bill explicitly states that it does not impact law applicable to agreements that:

establish[] a fixed term of service or prohibit[] disclosure of trade secrets, disclosure of confidential and proprietary client information, or solicitation of clients of the employer that the individual learned about during employment … .

The Bill still must pass in the New York State Assembly.  If passed in the Assembly, the Bill will move to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who will have ten days to sign the Bill into law, or to veto the Bill. In the past, Governor Hochul has supported limitations on non-compete agreements for low-wage employees.  For example, in 2022, she pledged to propose legislation to eliminate non-competes for workers making below New York’s median wage, and to ban “no-poach” agreements under state antitrust law. However, the Bill goes far beyond the low-wage restrictions that are becoming more common across the country, and Governor Hochul’s position on an outright ban on non-competes as proposed in the Bill is unclear at this time.

The Bill is part of a broader emerging trend in various states and the federal government seeking to prohibit or limit employers’ use of non-compete agreements.

We will continue to monitor the status of the Bill and will provide updates on further developments.

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Photo of Steven J. Pearlman Steven J. Pearlman

Steven J. Pearlman is a partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department, where he is Head of the Restrictive Covenants, Trade Secrets & Unfair Competition Group and Co-Head of the Whistleblowing & Retaliation Group.

Employment, Whistleblower, Restrictive Covenant and Trade Secret Practice.

Steven J. Pearlman is a partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department, where he is Head of the Restrictive Covenants, Trade Secrets & Unfair Competition Group and Co-Head of the Whistleblowing & Retaliation Group.

Employment, Whistleblower, Restrictive Covenant and Trade Secret Practice. Steven’s national practice focuses on defending companies in federal and state courts and arbitration against claims of: discrimination, retaliation and harassment, including claims brought by high-level executives; whistleblower retaliation; restrictive covenant violations; theft of trade secrets; and wage-and-hour violations (including class, collective and PAGA actions).

Illustrating his versatility, Steven has successfully handled bench and jury trials in multiple jurisdictions (e.g., Illinois, California, Florida and Texas); defended one of the largest Illinois-only class actions in the history of the federal courts in Chicago; and prevailed following his oral arguments before the Seventh Circuit and state appellate courts. Steven brings his litigation experience to bear in counseling clients to minimize risk and avoid or prepare for success in litigation.

Investigations. Reporting to boards of directors, their audit committees, CEOs and in-house counsel, Steven conducts sensitive investigations and has testified in federal court. His investigations have involved complaints of sexual harassment involving C-suite officers; systemic violations of employment laws and company policies; and fraud, compliance failures and unethical conduct.

Thought Leadership and Accolades. Steven was named Lawyer of the Year for Chicago Labor & Employment Litigation in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. He was also named as One of the Top 10 Impactful Labor & Employment Lawyers in Illinois for 2023 by Business Today. He is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Chambers describes Steven as an “outstanding lawyer” who is “very sharp and very responsive,” a “strong advocate,” and an “expert in his field.” Chambers also reports that “He is someone who can navigate the twists and turns of litigation without difficulty. Steven is great with brief-writing, crafting arguments, and making sure the client is always happy.”

Steven was 1 of 12 individuals selected by Compliance Week as a “Top Mind.” Earlier in his career, he was 1 of 5 U.S. lawyers selected by Law360 as a “Rising Star Under 40” in the area of employment law and 1 of “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch” selected by Law Bulletin Publishing Company. Steven is a Burton Award Winner (U.S. Library of Congress) for “Distinguished Legal Writing.”

Steven was appointed to Law360’s Employment Editorial Advisory Board and selected as a Contributor to Forbes.com. He has appeared on Bloomberg News (television and radio) and Yahoo! Finance, and is often quoted in leading publications such as The Wall Street Journal.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has engaged Steven to serve as lead counsel on amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court and federal circuit courts of appeal. He was appointed to serve as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois in employment litigation matters. He has presented with the Solicitor of the DOL, the Acting Chair of the EEOC, an EEOC Commissioner, Legal Counsel to the EEOC, and heads of the SEC, CFTC and OSHA whistleblower programs. He is also a member of the Sedona Conference, focusing on trade secret matters.

In 2024, Steven received the Excellence in Pro Bono Service Award from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Photo of Alexandra Oxyer Alexandra Oxyer

Alexandra “Alex” S. Oxyer is an associate in the Labor & Employment Law Department.

Alex concentrates her practice in complex employment litigation and employment law counseling, including advising clients on issues related to hiring and firing, workplace investigations, employment policies, and wage and…

Alexandra “Alex” S. Oxyer is an associate in the Labor & Employment Law Department.

Alex concentrates her practice in complex employment litigation and employment law counseling, including advising clients on issues related to hiring and firing, workplace investigations, employment policies, and wage and hour compliance. She regularly defends companies in all aspects of employment litigation, including claims of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, and breach of restrictive covenants (e.g., noncompetition and nonsolicitation). She has handled such cases before state and federal courts throughout the country, as well as before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, the American Arbitration Association, and the Department of Labor.

Prior to joining Proskauer, Alex was a cum laude graduate from Indiana University Maurer School of Law. She previously practiced at a national management-side employment law firm, and in addition to her experience in private practice, Alex also worked as in-house counsel for a large public university. As in-house counsel, Alex investigated, managed, and resolved a wide range of disputes in the student affairs and employment areas, including single and multi-plaintiff discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage & hour issues.