The Library

As we enter the second full year of the Biden Administration, nearly every federal agency that regulates employment in the United States have begun to hit their stride and is hard at work with various initiatives and rulings which seek to expand worker protections and reverse guidance, regulations and decisions issued during the Trump era. This article highlights just a few of these developments. We have previously reported on the “crackdown” actions taken by the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) to invalidate the noncompete provisions used by three companies that covered hundreds of employees, not all of whom were “low wage” […]

ROANOKE, Va. — Age is just a number, or so the old saying goes. Even when your law firm turns 100 years old. Gentry Locke is proud to mark a century of serving clients and being one of the most trusted law firms in Virginia. That kind of longevity is a testament to the firm’s skilled lawyers and staff and their ability to foster close relationships with clients and co-workers to deliver results. Tracing its roots to 1923, Gentry Locke has long been a valuable partner and leader for clients, businesses and the community. But in 2023, few people care […]

From Bloomberg Law. Published February 7, 2023. Click here to read this article on bloomberglaw.com.

While most commentary and handwringing has focused on the Federal Trade Commission’s (“FTC”) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released on January 5, 2023, many are unaware of the FTC actions taken the day before. On January 4, 2023, the FTC announced the successful launch of what it calls an enforcement “crackdown” against noncompete agreements by heralding forced settlements with three (3) different companies that made regular use of noncompete agreements with a broad range of employees, and not just with low-wage or low-skilled workers.[1] Each of the FTC Complaints alleged the “unfair use of noncompetes in violation of Section 5 of […]

On January 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) created a stir when it released a 218-page Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and a Proposed Rule that if implemented will prohibit the use of post-employment, noncompete provisions.  The Proposed Rule extends to all workers, whether paid or not, and would require employers to rescind existing noncompete agreements within 180 days of publication of the Final Rule.[1]  The FTC estimates that approximately 30 million workers are bound by a post-employment noncompete provision. Much has been said about the Proposed Rule, but these are several initial observations in advance of a webinar Gentry […]