Clifford Atlas is a principal in the New York City, New York, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He is the co-leader of the Restrictive Covenants, Trade Secrets and Unfair Competition practice group.

Cliff works extensively with clients in developing and drafting employment contracts and restrictive covenant agreements, and developing programs to best protect clients’ confidential business information. He has significant experience in prosecuting as well as defending actions involving breach of non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, employee raiding, misappropriation of confidential information, tortious interference with contract, unfair competition, and related business claims. Cliff also has assisted clients in employment issues arising from corporate transactions.

Additionally, Cliff handles all types of employment discrimination, harassment, disability, wrongful discharge, and related employment tort, contract, wage-hour and employee benefits claims. He has tried cases in state and federal courts, and before administrative agencies. Cliff has argued numerous appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Honors and Recognitions

  • The Best Lawyers in America©, "Litigation - Labor and Employment" (2018-present)
  • Lawyer’s Alliance for New York, Cornerstone Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Legal Services to Non-profits (2011)
  • New York Super Lawyers®, "Super Lawyers" (2010-2020)

No aspect of this or any advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. For all award methodology, see Awards and Honors Methodology.

Professional Associations and Activities

  • New York State Bar Association, Section on Labor and Employment Law

Is anyone focusing on anything other than the COVID-19 Pandemic?  Apparently, the Virginia legislature and governor are undeterred, enacting a series of new laws.  Among them, Virginia has banned non-compete agreements for lower wage earners, becoming the most recent state to do so.  A summary of the key provisions is included in this article written