In a 7-0 decision yesterday, the California Supreme Court held that a noncompetition agreement signed by a former Arthur Andersen CPA was invalid under California law.   In Edwards v. Arthur Andersen LLP, the court reminded us that noncompetition agreements are invalid under California’s Business and Professions Code section 16600, even if they are written narrowly enough not to deprive persons of their right to pursue their profession.  The court specifically rejected the "narrow restraint" exception to section 16600 that had previously been adopted by the Ninth Circuit, under which employers could enforce noncompetes that did not "entirely preclude" an employee from practicing his or her trade.