@Sinope , not sure if you are being sarcastic on spelling mistake. Anyway, what I was referring to was a contract that clearly says that you will not take any job which will directly or indirectly hamper ( causing some financial loss ) your employer's business like by working with the vendors/clients that you got in touch through them. There is usually a time/duration specified in the contract for how long you can not work to those clients. If employer has this signed document and you violate it, it is totally upon them whether to bring the case to court or not. If they do (usually desi consultancies won't as they have a lot to hide , and consultants know a lot) , it is just a matter of monetary bargaining, they are going to win the case.