Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. v. Batra

Batra (defendant) served as the New York-based senior executive with worldwide responsibility for two Estee Lauder (plaintiff) skin-care brands under an employment agreement designating New York law and barring competition anywhere he had work-related responsibilities for one year after termination, with Estee Lauder continuing his full salary during that period; after resigning to join a direct competitor, Batra sought a declaratory judgment in California that the agreement was unenforceable under California law, while Estee Lauder sought a preliminary injunction in New York to enforce the non-compete.