October 28, 2025
Willkie defeated a motion for preliminary injunction in a post-employment restrictive covenant and trade secret misappropriation litigation in Florida, securing a significant initial win – and overcoming the presumption of enforceability for non-compete agreements in the state – on behalf of two executives sued by a former employer.
Willkie prevailed against the motion for preliminary injunction by Franchise Fastlane, LLC, a franchise development company, which sought to bar two of its former directors of franchise development from continuing their employment at an alleged competitor and from using any of plaintiff’s purported trade secrets or industry contracts. Willkie succeeded following a full-day evidentiary hearing in which five witnesses were called to testify notwithstanding the presumption under Florida law of validity and enforceability of reasonable restrictive covenants in employment contracts.
The Honorable Mary S. Scriven of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida squarely ruled in favor of Willkie’s clients, rejecting the plaintiff’s bid for interim relief on all theories and denying the preliminary injunction motion and a related motion for expedited discovery.
The Willkie litigation team is led by partner Matthew Gurvitz and associates Steven Goodrich and Michelle Duarte.
Willkie prevailed against the motion for preliminary injunction by Franchise Fastlane, LLC, a franchise development company, which sought to bar two of its former directors of franchise development from continuing their employment at an alleged competitor and from using any of plaintiff’s purported trade secrets or industry contracts. Willkie succeeded following a full-day evidentiary hearing in which five witnesses were called to testify notwithstanding the presumption under Florida law of validity and enforceability of reasonable restrictive covenants in employment contracts.
The Honorable Mary S. Scriven of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida squarely ruled in favor of Willkie’s clients, rejecting the plaintiff’s bid for interim relief on all theories and denying the preliminary injunction motion and a related motion for expedited discovery.
The Willkie litigation team is led by partner Matthew Gurvitz and associates Steven Goodrich and Michelle Duarte.
