DH is a contractor. He worked at a company until 9mo ago when the work ran out. This company now has more work and they want him back, and he really wants to go back (he hasn't worked since dec 
but we don't claim anything).
His old agency are no longer used by the company. He's realised he had a clause in his contract with that agency that says that he can't work for the same company for 12m after leaving.
He wants and more importantly needs this work, there is bugger all else out there. He's going to call the old agency and explain the situation. But I'm (and he, of course) are really worried about what they are going to say / expect him to pay.
He's done some Googling and it seems it's a grey area. 12m may not be "reasonable". Clearly he hasn't done it this way to shaft the agency, it's just the way it is. And 9m seems like a long enough time to us, but then of course we'd think that.
He'll be going back to the same sort of role.
So, can anyone give me a heads up about what the likely outcome is? The company have said he has no choice but to go through the agency they are using presently (they are a large multinational so there's no budging on this. They've basically said it's up to him to sort it out, as they don't have any contracts with DH's agency).
I'm off out soon but will check back once I come home.
Thanks in advance 
.