In January 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed a nationwide ban on noncompete agreements, and several states have since followed suit. This set off a howl of protest from practices leery of doctors leaving and taking patients, staff, and valuable trade secrets (including marketing strategies) with them, inflicting serious economic damage. In March, we discussed six strategies to beat the proposed ban on non-competes and below we offer three more.

California has long had labor-friendly laws favoring employee mobility and competition, including a ban on noncompete agreements since the 1800s. Yet, it’s home to some of the biggest tech companies in the world, whose intellectual property (secrets) are worth billions. Here are three strategies some California companies use to protect their valuable intellectual property, so it’s not sold or pilfered when employees leave. These can apply to your practice as well.