Employment Agreements

Employer-employee relationships in the trade industry play an important role in the workings of most international enterprises. We routinely draft employment agreements for our corporate clients that clearly define an employee’s rights and duties while at the same time complying with relevant statutes.

It is not uncommon for key personnel with information regarding client contacts and shipping information to be lured away by a competitor or start a competing business of their own. To prevent this, employment contracts may contain a covenant not to compete, which must be drafted to comply with the applicable legal requirements. Similarly, the Uniform Trade Secrets Act provides a statutory framework to protect employee confidentiality under certain circumstances. A single company with activities at multiple ports may be uncertain of how the Act protects their interests. We counsel employers with regard to these employment matters and draft employment contracts tailored to a company’s needs.

We also represent employees in the trade industry who have grievances against their employer. Employee rights may be defined by statute or agreement. Employees face issues such as wrongful termination or threats intended to deter them from seeking alternative work in the industry. We protect employees’ rights in internal corporate investigations of trade secret and export control matters.

The breach of an enforceable employment contract is a serious matter. We attempt to resolve employment disputes amicably, but if such an approach is ineffective, we litigate to enforce our clients’ rights.