Ask the law - Gulf News: "I worked with a local audit company for 7 years. I had signed an agreement with the company stating that after leaving the company I would not join any of their competitors. Later, I joined a company in the hotel industry. Now I have an offer from an international audit firm. Can I join this company? Are these two firms competitors? : : You are obligated not to join a competitor of your former employer. Whether the two firms are competitors or not can be determined by the activities conducted by the companies and their customers. And that is subject to the evaluation of a judge."