Carey Olsen seminars highlight steps for employers to protect their business

Over 100 delegates attended Carey Olsen's employment breakfast seminars which were held on 4th and 6th July in Guernsey and Jersey. The seminars, which were the third in the series for 2012, focused on ways in which employers can protect their business from the threats posed by team moves to competitor organisations and the misuse of information which is confidential to an employer.

The firm's pan-island employment team discussed the tools that employers could use to provide themselves with adequate protection when an employee leaves the firm. These included garden leave, restraints, restrictive covenants and confidentiality provisions. The seminars also touched on intellectual property rights and how these could be used alongside employment contracts to maximise protection.

Partner Mark Dunster (pictured top), who chaired the Guernsey seminar, said: “In the increasingly competitive business environment employers are becoming more concerned with the effect an employee may have on the business when they depart, taking with them invaluable knowledge of business strategy, pricing, key clients and contacts.

“Employers are now more likely than ever to enforce contractual obligations where necessary and take claims to the courts to ensure that their company's assets are protected,” he added.

Of Counsel Huw Thomas (pictured bottom), one of the speakers at the Jersey seminar, said: “Even in a recession, the war for talent in the Channel Islands remains fierce and some employees and employers remain willing to push the boundaries of acceptable behaviour, in particular in relation to confidential information and competitive behaviour. Employers need to understand the risks which arise from employment relationships and the available practical and legal tools which can help them address those risks.”

Earlier this month, Carey Olsen announced the promotion of two members of the pan-island employment team, Huw Thomas to Of Counsel and Rachel Richardson to senior associate. Additionally, Elaine Gray joined the Guernsey practice as Of Counsel in April 2012.

The dates for the next seminars in the series will be announced shortly. For more information or to be added to our mailing list for employment events please contact anna.coombs@careyolsen.com (Guernsey) or maria.perree@careyolsen.com (Jersey).