Non-Solicitation Clause

A non-solicitation clause restricts one party from soliciting the other party's employees, customers, vendors, or business partners — usually for a defined period after termination. In NIL deals, non-solicitation typically goes one way (athlete cannot solicit brand employees or partners) and rarely affects athlete operations meaningfully. The clause should define "solicit" narrowly (active recruitment, not passive job postings; direct outreach, not industry events), define the protected group precisely (current employees vs. anyone who worked for the brand in the past five years), and impose a reasonable duration (12 months is standard; 24+ is aggressive). Most non-solicitation disputes turn on the definition of "solicit" — careful drafting matters more than the headline duration.