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Non-Disclosure Agreement for New York

Generate an NDA that complies with New York law, with NY-specific clauses, legal requirements, and jurisdiction-aware protections.

New York legal context

New York does not have a state-specific trade secrets act but relies on common law and the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA). New York courts enforce NDAs strictly based on consideration and reasonableness. Non-compete provisions within NDAs are scrutinized under the reasonableness standard, and recent legislative proposals have sought to ban them entirely.

What's required

  • New York Trade Secret Definition

    Ashland Mgmt. Inc. v. Janien, 82 N.Y.2d 395 (1993)

  • Sexual Harassment NDA Restrictions

    NY Gen. Oblig. Law § 5-336; NY CPLR § 7515

  • DTSA Immunity Notice

    18 U.S.C. § 1833(b) (DTSA Immunity)

  • New York Governing Law and Jurisdiction

  • Trade Secret Definition

    18 U.S.C. § 1836 (Defend Trade Secrets Act)

What's prohibited

  • Non-disclosure clause preventing disclosure of sexual harassment facts

    New York law (Gen. Oblig. Law § 5-336, amended 2023) restricts NDAs in sexual harassment cases. NDA provisions relating to sexual harassment claims require a 21-day consideration period and 7-day revocation period, and the complainant must affirmatively prefer confidentiality. Provisions that categorically silence sexual harassment disclosures are unenforceable.

  • Prohibition on filing complaints with government agencies

    NDAs cannot prevent parties from filing complaints with or cooperating in investigations by government agencies such as the EEOC, NY Division of Human Rights, or other regulatory bodies.

Key NY statutes

  • Defend Trade Secrets Act (Federal)

    18 U.S.C. §§ 1833-1839

    Primary statutory framework for trade secret claims in New York (no state UTSA).

  • Common Law Trade Secret Protection

    NY Common Law

    New York relies on common law for trade secret definitions and misappropriation claims.

New York-specific considerations

  • Common Law Framework

    New York has not adopted the Uniform Trade Secrets Act. Trade secret disputes rely on common law factors including the extent of secrecy measures.

  • Non-Compete Scrutiny

    New York courts scrutinize non-compete restrictions within NDAs for reasonableness in duration, geography, and scope.

  • Adequate Consideration

    Continued employment may serve as consideration for current employees signing NDAs, but additional consideration strengthens enforceability.

Why this matters in New York

  • No state Uniform Trade Secrets Act, relies on common law

  • Federal DTSA is the primary statutory trade secret framework

  • Non-compete provisions are enforceable but closely scrutinized

  • Strong blue-pencil doctrine allows courts to modify overbroad terms

Frequently asked questions

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