律师法
sampleattorneyopinionletter
date
（nameofclient）
president
***co.,ltd
city,state,zipcode
re：opinionletterregarding（nameofemployee,e.g.,fictitious****）
dear（name）：
afterourinitialmeeting,ireviewedthepapersyousentmeregardingthe****matter.asiunderstandthesituation,ms.**signedawrittenemploymentagreementwithyourcompany.theagreementstatedthatintheeventofterminationorresignationfromherjobasyoursalesassociate,ms.**wouldnotcalluponorsellgoodstoanyofyourcustomersforaperiodofoneyear.
youhaveaskedmetoadviseyouaboutyourrights,thechanceofsuccess,theamountofdamagesthatmayberecoverable,thecostsinvolved,andmyabilitytorepresentyouinthismatter.
rightsof***againstms.**
whenms.**signedawrittencontractwithyourcompany,sheagreednottocalluponanyofyourcustomersforaperiodofoneyear.thisiscalledarestrictivecovenant.toenforceyourcovenantagainstms.**,youmustbringanactionagainstherandproveyourcase.youhaveachoiceofforumsinwhichtobringtheaction：federaldistrictcourtorastatecourt.sinceitiseasiertoobtainaninjunction（anactiontoimmediatelystopherfromsellingtoyourcustomers）inastatecourtratherthanafederalcourt,iwouldsuggestthestatecourt.
imustadviseyouthatinjunctionsarelargelydiscretionarywiththecourt,andthereareseveralfactorsherethatmightleaditnottograntoneonyourbehalf.sinceyouwaitedeightmonthsbeforethreateningtosuems.**,myguessisthatyouhaveaboutatwentypercent（20%）chanceofobtaininganinjunction.
rightstoandamountofdamages
yourchancesofobtainingmoneydamagesagainstms.**aremuchgreaterthanyourchancesforaninjunction.fromourdiscussionandthefactsandevidencesuggestedinyourpapers,itappearsthattheamountofrecoverabledamageswouldbemeasuredbytheprofitsyouhavelostsincethetimems.**begansellingcompetitiveproductstoyourcustomers.
itshouldbeunderstoodthatifwewinourcase,however,ms.**maynotvoluntarilypaythejudgment.thus,itmaybenecessarytoenforcethejudgmentbyhavingasherifformarshallseizeandsellassetsnotexemptfromexecution.however,ifms.**doesnotownassets,suchasrealestate,moneyinbankaccounts,stocks,etc.,butownsonlypersonalitemsexemptfromexecutionunderthelawsofourstate,thenanyjudgmentyouobtainmaynotbeworthmuch.
negativestolawsuit
besidesthefactthatyoumaylosealawsuitagainstms.**orthatanyjudgmentobtainedmaybeuncollectible,thereareothernegativefactorsyoushouldconsiderbeforebringingalawsuit.theseincludecourtcostsandattorneyfees.courtcostsarerecoverable,butothercosts,suchastravel,thetimelostwhenyouarecalledtotestify（orrequiredtohelpusdevelopthecase）,andattorneyfees,arenotrecoverable.
myservices
iamfamiliarwiththenatureofyourmanufacturingbusinessandamqualifiedtorepresentyouinthismatterifyouchoosetoproceed.myfeewouldbebasedonmynormalhourlychargeof$250formyselfand$150forassociates.trialtimeisbilledat$1,000perday.theinitialservicesofpreparingacomplaintandservingsamewouldcostapproximately$300.preparingarequestforaninjunctionandattendingahearingontheinjunctionwouldcostapproximately$2,500.
itisquitepossiblethatms.**wouldnotretainherowncounselandnotanswerthecomplaint.thismeansthatadefaultjudgmentcouldbetakenwithoutthenecessityofatrial.hereattorneyfeeswouldprobablyamounttonomorethan$1,000.
irequirea$1,000retainertoopenafileandcommenceanaction.
ifyouwishtoproceedwiththismatter,iwillneedtoknowthefullnamesandaddressesofyourcustomerstowhomms.**ispresentlysellingandtheestimatedsalesvolumewhichyouhavelost.
ifyouhaveanyquestions,pleasecallme.
verytrulyyours,
nameofattorney