"Note non-competes as the result of acquisitions are pretty much iron clad even in CA." I think that only applies if the employee in question had ownership/inv

"Note non-competes as the result of acquisitions are pretty much iron clad even in CA." I think that only applies if the employee in question had ownership/investment in the acquired company. If they did not, then the non-compete is not valid (at least in CA, I have no idea about WA).