Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Illinois

To answer that question briefly, if you contact anybody on your former employer�s client list before your non-compete clause expires, you can be sued by your former employer.

In addition, under the Illinois Trade Secrets Act, a list of actual or potential customers or suppliers of your ex-employer is their trade secret, assuming that they took reasonable measures to keep it secret, and your possession of that list without their authorization is a misappropriation of that trade secret that could be enjoined and damages may be obtained by your former employer against you whether you disclose that list or not under the Act . See http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2239&ChapAct=765 ILCS 1065/&ChapterID=62&ChapterName=PROPERTY&ActName=Illinois+Trade+Secrets+Act.

THE ABOVE ADVICE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING ANY MATERIAL PRESENTED HEREIN, I RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONSULT AN ATTORNEY. THIS INFORMATION IS BEING PROVIDED BY AN ATTORNEY IN ACTIVE PRACTICE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND CURRENTLY HOLDS AN ACTIVE LAW LICENSE IN THAT STATE ONLY.