Karlin Legal reviews non-competes, offer letters, severance terms, commissions, and workplace contracts for employees in Chicago and Illinois.
Employment contracts, non-solicitation terms, confidentiality obligations, commission plans, and executive offer letters can shape what you can do next. A restrictive covenant may affect your next job, your clients, your compensation, and your leverage before or after separation. Brad Karlin helps employees, executives, professionals, sales employees, and managers understand these documents before a signature, resignation, or threatened enforcement creates avoidable risk.
Contract And Restrictive Covenant Issues Karlin Legal Reviews
- Non-compete agreements and post-employment restrictions
- Non-solicitation agreements involving customers, referral sources, coworkers, or vendors
- Confidentiality, trade secret, return-of-property, and cooperation provisions
- Offer letters, employment agreements, bonus plans, and commission plans
- Executive agreements, equity terms, deferred compensation, and transition documents
- Severance agreements that include releases, non-disparagement, or restrictive covenants
When To Talk With An Employment Lawyer
It is usually better to review an agreement before signing, resigning, accepting a new role, contacting clients, or responding to a threat letter. The right advice depends on the document language, the job duties involved, the employee’s role, the employer’s business interest, the timing of the restriction, and the practical consequences of a dispute.
These issues often overlap with employment contract review, severance agreement review, executive severance, and disputes involving unpaid wages, commissions, or bonuses.
How Brad Helps Employees Evaluate Leverage
A contract review is not just a grammar exercise. Brad looks at what the document says, what it leaves unclear, what the employer may try to enforce, and what practical options exist. For higher-value matters, that may include negotiation, narrowing language, preserving rights, responding to employer pressure, or deciding whether a proposed agreement is worth the tradeoff.
Useful Records To Gather
- The full agreement, offer letter, severance agreement, or commission plan
- Any amendments, handbooks, emails, or prior versions
- Compensation records, bonus or commission calculations, and equity documents
- Threat letters, exit paperwork, or communications about clients or restrictions
Non-Compete And Contract FAQ
Should I have a lawyer review a non-compete before I resign?
Yes, it is often wise to review restrictions before resigning, accepting a new job, contacting customers, or taking confidential information. The timing can affect leverage and risk.
Can an employer enforce every restriction in an agreement?
No. Enforceability depends on the language, the facts, Illinois law, the employer’s interest, and the employee’s role. A review can separate realistic concerns from overbroad threats.
What if I already signed the agreement?
A signed agreement still deserves review. The next step may involve understanding risk, negotiating a practical solution, responding to a threat, or preserving defenses.
Request A Confidential Review
If a workplace agreement may affect your next move, request a confidential case review or call (312) 870-0043.
Illinois non-compete and non-solicitation rules
As of 2026, Illinois generally bars non-compete covenants for employees earning $75,000 or less per year and non-solicitation covenants for employees earning $45,000 or less per year. These thresholds increase on January 1, 2027. Other statutory requirements and exceptions apply, and the result can depend on the agreement date, the employee’s role and earnings, and the type of restriction. Review the current Illinois Freedom to Work Act, 820 ILCS 90/10 and get advice about the specific agreement before acting.