Contract forbidding setting up in competition within radius of current work place

[rob30]

I have become aware of certain professions making it part of a partnership contract that if a partner leaves the partnership, they will not set up within a certain radius of where they were originally working.
Is this actually legal?

 

[stevec]

This is common in employment contracts as well.

Yes, it's legal - it's enforcement can be questioned when the excluded region / excluded practice is so broad as to restrict the possibility of future employment*.

*I'm not a solicitor but have gotten advice on a similar clause in an employment contract.