IT services provider En Pointe Technologies Inc. is countersuing a Toronto competitor that claims En Pointe is hiring away its employees to gain access to its trade secrets.

Gardena-based En Pointe said Thursday that it is seeking a court declaration that Softchoice Corp. has engaged in improper business practices by using anti-competitive clauses in its employment contracts and policies which unlawfully restrict an individual’s ability to work.

“We believe that Softchoice wrongfully threatens suit against employees who dare to leave them,” En Pointe Vice President Michael Rapp said in a statement

Both En Pointe and Softchoice target mid-market businesses, and government agencies, to provide IT professional services that can include computer hardware, proprietary software, and information security.

Softchoice on June 24 sued En Pointe, alleging the company engaged in a scheme to misappropriate Softchoice’s confidential information, trade secrets, and customer relationships by hiring away certain Softchoice employees.

“Unable to create sufficient revenue through organic growth of its business, EnPointe has chosen to increase its revenue by stealing the very kind of confidential business relationships it forbids its own employees even to discuss with others,” the Softchoice suit said. Softchoice executives could not be reached for comment on the countersuit.