General legal information about contract terms in the UK, not legal advice.
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Non-compete clause

A non-compete clause stops a party from competing with the other for a period after the relationship ends. Restrictions on individuals are only enforceable if they protect a legitimate interest and go no further than reasonably necessary.

Prepared by a retired English qualified solicitor (LLB, LLM) · reviewed · applies across the UK unless stated · how we draft

In more detail

Courts will not rewrite an unreasonable restriction to make it enforceable, so drafting must be precise.

Put it into a contract

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Reviewed 2026-09-24. General legal information, not legal advice.