[steveBK123]

Yeah, these are crazy. I had a 3 month non compete (paid, it's great if you time it in summer).

BUT also a 5 year non-solicitation clause. The language is strict such that even if I & coworkerX move elsewhere, if I solicit coworkerX in that 5 year loopback they threaten to go after me.

So are these agreements legal in the sense that they'd stand up in court? No not really.. but you don't want to risk it.

All firms in the industry enforce similar clauses and defacto respect each others, such as to keep the facade up.

I had a firm make me a very generous offer and ask if I could get my PAID non-compete waived at old fund.

I asked - well you are asking me to ask to get my 3 months paid time off waived, can you offer me something in return.. like you'll pay me for 1 month and I'll start 2 months earlier? They said absolutely not, they don't want to be seen as soliciting me to violate my contract with old fund.