Blank Rome partner Leigh Ann Buziak will serve as a panelist at Practising Law Institute’s (“PLI”) Fundamentals of Noncompetes 2026, being held in New York, New York, on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

About the Program

Understanding the changing landscape and its implications is nothing short of critical—particularly for companies engaged in business across state lines.

This program is designed to explain the key concepts in restrictive covenant law; the difference between noncompete agreements, nonsolicitation agreements, and nondisclosure agreements, and how to use each to its advantage; the business interests that can be protected; and how companies can use restrictive agreements to protect them. Speakers will also cover the key issues and principles applicable to drafting of restrictive covenants for companies located in one state or many and explain how to best protect a company’s information, customers, and workforce.

Leigh Ann’s session, “The Essentials of Drafting Noncompete Agreements and Related Restrictive Covenants in 2026,” will take place from 2:50 to 3:50 p.m.

About the Session

This panel will explain the fundamentals of drafting restrictive covenants. Topics include:

  • When and under what circumstances employees can be asked to sign a noncompete or other restrictive covenant
  • Implications of using noncompetes for employees across state lines, and how to anticipate and plan for further changes
  • When and how to use forum selection and choice of law clauses, when they are required, and when they won't help
  • Key issues when drafting restrictions for different level employees to increase the likelihood of enforcement
  • Common drafting traps and how to avoid them
  • The interplay between geographic breadth and business description, especially in the digital age of remote and hybrid workplaces

Panelists:

  • Leigh Ann Buziak, Blank Rome LLP
  • Melissa L. McDonagh, Littler Mendelson P.C.
  • C. Max Perlman, Gunderson Dettmer
  • Eric Akira Tate, Morrison Foerster
  • Sarah C. C. Tishler, Beck Reed Riden LLP

CLE credit is available.

For more information and to register, please visit the program webpage.