For five (5) years, Nick worked for a tire supply company as an outside sales representative. Of the firm's 4,000 clients across the southern states, Nick was responsible for 100 clients in western Texas. He visited these customers on a regular basis and maintained a very close relationship with them. In many situations, he was the only connection between the firm and these clients. When Nick joined the firm, he signed a non-compete agreement that stipulated that, if he was to stop his relationship with the company, he would not engage in any business of any kind with any customer of the firm for a period of two years. Because of his success in building client relationships, Nick is courted by a competing firm that does business all over the United States. He accepts an offer and begins to contact both his original customers as well as other customers of his previous employer to encourage them to change tire companies. Nick's previous employer files a cause of action for breach of contract.

What are the strongest arguments for Nick? What are the best arguments of the previous employer?