State-Specific Laws: Non-compete laws vary significantly by state. Some states like California largely prohibit non-competes, while others like Florida actively enforce them. Each state has different restrictions on duration, geographic scope, and scope of prohibited activities.

Federal Laws and Guidelines: Key federal considerations including the FTC's proposed rule (2023) to ban non-compete clauses, federal antitrust laws, and Biden Administration's Executive Order on Promoting Competition (2021).

Constitutional Considerations: Important constitutional aspects including right to work, interstate commerce implications, and public policy concerns that affect non-compete agreements.

Case Law: Relevant legal precedents including state-specific enforcement standards, reasonableness standards, and the blue pencil doctrine allowing courts to modify terms.

Industry-Specific Regulations: Special regulations and considerations for specific industries such as healthcare, technology, and professional services sectors.

Employee Classification Considerations: Different standards and requirements based on employee types: executive vs. non-executive employees, highly compensated vs. lower-wage workers, and independent contractors vs. employees.

Legitimate Business Interest Requirements: Requirements to demonstrate valid business interests being protected, including trade secrets, customer relationships, confidential information, and specialized training.