Restrictive Covenants & Confidentiality

Restrictive Covenants & Confidentiality

A business’s most valuable assets often walk out of the door with departing staff — client relationships, know-how, confidential information. Restrictive covenants and confidentiality obligations are how employers protect those assets, but they are only worth having if they are enforceable.

Under Cyprus law, a clause that restrains a former employee’s activities is approached cautiously: a restriction will generally be upheld only so far as it goes no further than is reasonably necessary to protect a legitimate business interest. Draft one too widely and you risk having it struck down altogether. We help get the balance right.

For employers

We draft and review the protections that actually hold up — non-competition, non-solicitation of clients and staff, and confidentiality clauses scoped to a defensible duration, geography and purpose. We also advise on garden leave, protection of trade secrets, and what to do when a former employee breaches their obligations.

For employees

We advise on what your contract really restricts you from doing, whether a covenant is likely to be enforceable, and how to move to a new role or start a venture without exposing yourself to a claim.

What we advise on

• Non-competition and non-solicitation covenants
• Confidentiality clauses and standalone NDAs
• Protection of trade secrets and confidential information
• Garden leave provisions
• Enforcement of, and defence against, post-termination restrictions