Texas Contract & Noncompete Disputes Blog

Over the past decade, Attorney Robert Wood has published hundreds of articles on the Texas Contract & Noncompete Disputes Blog, establishing himself as an authority on Texas noncompete law. If you want to gain a better understanding of how non-compete and other contractual issues are handled in the Texas courts, you’re in the right place.

If you’d like to speak with Robert about your situation, you can contact him using this form or call him at 469-754-2812.

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Jun 6, 2025 | By Robert Wood | Read Time: 3 minutes | #Noncompete Agreements

Everything You Need to Know About Texas Noncompete Geographic Limitations

Texas noncompete geographic limitations are one of the most contested elements of noncompete agreements in court. Employers understandably want to protect their business interests, while former employees want the freedom to pursue new opportunities. Courts in Texas walk a fine line between those competing interests, often focusing on whether a noncompete’s geographic scope is reasonably tied to the employee’s...

Jun 6, 2025 | By Robert Wood | Read Time: 4 minutes | #Noncompete Agreements

16 Questions People Ask Most About Texas Noncompete Agreements

Below you’ll find answers to the 16 questions I get more than any other about Texas noncompete law. Each answer is short and to the point. For almost every question I have also provided a link to a related post that addresses the question in greater detail and with more nuance. 1. What is required for a covenant not...

Aug 21, 2024 | By Robert Wood | Read Time: 2 minutes | #Noncompete Agreements

Federal Judge Halts FTC’s Noncompete Ban

Noncompete agreements remain enforceable in Texas and beyond after a federal judge in Texas issued a nationwide injunction against the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent ban on them. This landmark ruling temporarily preserves the status quo, allowing Texas employers to continue using them under existing state laws. Immediate Implications for Texas Employers and Employees For employers, this means that...

Jul 7, 2024 | By Robert Wood | Read Time: < 1 minute | #Noncompete Agreements

FTC Noncompete Ban in Jeopardy, Likely Unlawful

On July 3, 2024, a federal district court in Dallas ruled that the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) likely exceeded its authority when it enacted a nationwide noncompete ban. The court noted, “The text, structure, and history of the FTC Act reveal that the FTC lacks substantive rulemaking authority with respect to unfair methods of competition.” The court also found “there is a substantial likelihood the [FTC’s] Rule is arbitrary and capricious because it is unreasonably overbroad...

May 13, 2024 | By Robert Wood | Read Time: 2 minutes | #Non-Disclosure

How Does the FTC Noncompete Decision Impact Nonsolicitation and Nondisclosure Agreements in Texas?

Legal challenges notwithstanding, the recent ruling by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ban noncompete agreements has sent ripples through the business and legal communities. As a Texas attorney specializing in noncompete law, I’ve received numerous questions from business owners, executives, and employers about how this federal decision impacts other types of employment agreements, specifically nonsolicitation and nondisclosure agreements....

Apr 24, 2024 | By Robert Wood | Read Time: < 1 minute | #Noncompete Agreements

FTC Votes to Ban Noncompetes, but Employees Should Proceed with Caution

“Hooray, my noncompete is no longer in effect. The FTC just voided it.” Not so fast. Everybody knows about the FTC’s 3-2 decision to ban noncompete agreements. There are thousands of news stories on the internet about it, and no need to regurgitate them. I would like to caution everyone who’s bound by a noncompete agreement not to be...

Apr 24, 2023 | By Robert Wood | Read Time: 2 minutes | #Noncompete Agreements

No, the Biden Administration Has Not Banned Non-Compete Agreements

“I can ignore my noncompete because Biden banned them, right?” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this over the past few weeks. No, neither the Biden Administration nor the Federal Trade Commission has banned noncompetes. Even if the FTC were to attempt to do so, the new rule would almost certainly be immediately challenged in court. Chances are, such...

Mar 2, 2023 | By Robert Wood | Read Time: 7 minutes | #Noncompete Agreements

Sample Texas Noncompete Agreement (and Why Using a Free Template Is a Bad Idea)

If you run a small business you look to control expenses wherever you can. And if you are going to ask your employees to sign a non-compete agreement, you are probably tempted to use a templated noncompete agreement rather than paying an attorney to draft one for you. Here are our two cents: It’s going to be much more...

Mar 1, 2023 | By Robert Wood | Read Time: < 1 minute | #Noncompete Agreements

Calculating a Noncompete’s Geographic Scope: By Driving Distance, Or “As The Crow Flies”?

This is a topic that occasionally comes up with respect to geographic limits on Texas noncompetes. If the noncompete provision contains a 10-mile geographic scope, does that mean ten miles measured in driving distance or ten miles through the air? Sometimes, this is an important distinction, because a particular point might be ten miles away through the air, but...

Jan 15, 2023 | By Robert Wood | Read Time: 3 minutes | #Physician Contracts

Buyout Options are Mandatory Under Physician Noncompete Statute in Texas

NEWS: Major Update to Physician Noncompete Law Takes Effect September 1, 2025 In Texas, physician noncompetes differ from noncompetes in any other industry in several respects. The primary difference is this: The Texas noncompete statute requires that the physician be given the option to buyout of the noncompete if the physician wishes to do so. This “option to buyout”...