by Joseph F. Winterscheid and Nick Grimmer
Three of the seven companies defending allegations that they violated U.S. antitrust law by agreeing not to recruit each other’s employees agreed to settle all claims against them in In re: High-Tech Employee Antitrust Litigation for a total of $20 million. This putative class action and substantial settlement are important reminders of the caution required when considering any kind of agreement not to not to recruit or hire another company’s employees.