Archer & Greiner Environmental Group Earns Top Rankings in 2024 Chambers USA Guide
08.01.2024
Featured Insights
09.25.2024
Speaking Engagements & Seminars
Wills, Tax & Estate Planning
Join estate and trust litigation attorney, Melissa Dibble, who is one of the speakers at Samaritan's complementary workshop on Wills, Tax & Estate Planning. Attendees will learn the importance of having a will, explore other tax saving and estate planning options, as well as have your questions answered. The workshop is being hosted by Samaritan’s Planned Giving Committee.
08.23.2024
In the News
FTC Fails 1st Test Of Rulemaking Push In Noncompetes Loss
In the Law360 article, "FTC Fails 1st Test Of Rulemaking Push In Noncompetes Loss," partnerTom Muccifori, chair of Archer's Trade Secret Protection & Restrictive Covenants, commented on the Federal Trade Commission suffering its first definitive loss in the push to ban employment noncompete agreements. U.S. District Judge Ada E. Brown's ruling means that the ban won't go into effect Sept. 4 as planned, the decision gives the U.S. Chamber of Commerce a clear win on its bid to stop the FTC in its tracks on efforts to expand rulemaking beyond its normal consumer protection realm.
08.21.2024
Client Advisories
Federal Court Sets Aside FTC Ban on Non-Competes
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas has set aside the Federal Trade Commission’s (“FTC”) Non-Compete Clause Rule (“Rule”). In a ruling with nationwide effect, the court ordered that “the Rule shall not be enforced or otherwise take effect on its effective date of September 4, 2024 or thereafter.” This ruling bookends the first chapter of the FTC’s assault on non-compete agreements by way of rulemaking and eliminates the enormous uncertainty for employers previously staring down the Rule’s September 4 effective date and its mandatory notice requirement. In Ryan, LLC v. FTC, the court found that (1) the FTC lacked statutory authority to promulgate the Rule and (2) the Rule is arbitrary and capricious. As to its first finding, the court concluded that the FTC lacked authority to promulgate substantive rules regarding unfair methods of competition. And with respect to its second finding, the court held that the Rule is arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”) because it was unreasonably broad without any reasonable explanation. Having reached these conclusions, the court held that it was obligated to “hold unlawful” and “set aside” the Rule under the APA. In a break from its earlier preliminary injunction ruling – which stayed the Rule’s effective date only as to the plaintiffs in the case – the court explained that this setting aside has nationwide effect and is not limited to the named plaintiffs. Now that the FTC’s sweeping Rule has been set aside, employers can breathe a sigh of relief. However, an appeal is expected and hostility towards non-compete agreements still remains. Given this, employers should work with counsel to review existing agreements to ensure compliance with applicable state law while considering additional options to protect their legitimate business interests. You can read our previous advisories on the FTC’s Non-Compete Clause Rule here: