Hi, all,
This has probably, nay, definitely been answered around here to varying extents. However, at the risk of having you repeat yourselves, can someone please help me out here?
Background - I'm into client servicing and also actively involved in client acquisition. One such client that I brought into my firm has now made an offer to have me join them. The client is not based in India and is opening an office in India after I join. However, in their first engagement with my firm they did sign a contract that includes a non-solicitation clause. I've appended the entire statement below. Additionally, I've also included the relevant parts of my employee contract that forbid my joining a client. From the research I've done, I've come to understand that these clauses hold no grounds under section 27 of the Indian Contract Act, except in the case of goodwill, which I don't think is at stake here. Can someone shed some light on this? I don't think I have anything to lose and the client is also willing to sign a longer contract with my firm if it'll help my cause.
Here's the section clients sign:
Non-Solicitation: Each party undertakes that during the Term of this engagement and for a period of one year following its termination or expiration, it shall not, without the previous written consent of the other party, employ or engage the services of any person who was employed by/ rendering services to the other party at any time during a period of 12 months preceding the date on which the offer for employment/engaging the services is made by such party.
Here's the section employees sign:
