Fielding highly versatile teams working collaboratively across multiple cities, Kirkland & Ellis LLP’s formidable practice is especially renowned for its capabilities in business-critical technology disputes before both the state and federal courts. On the West Coast, the Bay Area-based Adam Alper is a seasoned patent and trade secrets litigator with a strong track record representing clients in the semiconductor, telecoms, and pharmaceutical arenas. In Los Angeles, IP trial lawyer Michael De Vries is widely regarded for his work in billion-dollar cases, defending the interests of various blue-chip technology entities, while Diana Torres’ recent highlights include trademark infringement suits and class action litigations in the automotive and cybersecurity sectors. On the East Coast, New York-based Dale Cendali is recommended for her expertise in copyright, internet, and advertising matters, while Washington DC-based Gregg LoCascio is an accomplished litigator in cases related to electrical and mechanical engineering. Also in New York, Claudia Ray is noted for her broad IP capabilities, ranging from pre-litigation strategizing to portfolio management. Chicago-based Gianni Cutri and the New York-based Joshua Simmons are also recommended.

Latham & Watkins LLP‘s sizeable team is regularly engaged by a number of the world’s biggest companies, who turn to the practice for representation in high-stakes trade secret disputes. Recent highlights for the Bay Area-based Douglas Lumish include big-ticket litigations on behalf of clients in the tech, consumer goods, and automotive sectors. Based in Chicago, global practice chair David Callahan regularly works with high-profile clients who operate across a diverse array of sectors, including semiconductors, consumer goods, and telecoms. The San Diego-based Jennifer Barry is noted for her internet law expertise, while the Bay Area-based first-chair trial lawyer Jeffrey Homrig handles consequential trade secrets disputes for some of the leading tech companies in the market. In Chicago, the Supreme Court-admitted Matthew Walch possesses extensive experience litigating intellectual property and unfair competition cases, both through dispositive motion practice and at trial. Tony Sammi, who joined the New York office from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in August 2021, is noted for his broad sector focus, spanning engineering, healthcare, software, and manufacturing.

Start-ups and world-leading companies alike turn to O'Melveny & Myers LLP for the depth of its expertise in trade secrets law and litigious proceedings. Helmed by Ryan Yagura from Los Angeles, the team enjoys a stellar reputation in the market on account of its cross-departmental approach and deep bench of partner talent, who regularly appear before the state and federal courts in highly technical cases. In San Francisco, Darin Snyder and David Almeling are widely regarded for the depth of their trade secrets knowledge, litigating cases across a number of IP-intensive sectors. The Silicon Valley-based Eric Amdursky routinely both brings and defends against non-compete and misappropriation cases, most recently in the luxury hotel and telecoms arenas. In San Francisco, David Eberhart is praised by technology companies for the creativity and strength of his representation, while counsel James Rothstein is recommended for his wide-ranging experience in the tech, hospitality, and financial services sectors.

Working closely with the firm’s IP and corporate departments on a myriad of cases, Seyfarth Shaw LLP’s dedicated trade secrets practice is consistently sought out by an array of entities operating in highly technical sectors, including automotive manufacturing, healthcare, and life sciences.  The team is praised by clients for its ‘exceptional expertise‘ in non-competes and restrictive covenants, an area in which the Boston-based Katherine Perrelli and Dawn Mertineit are key names. On the West Coast, Robert Milligan focuses on trade secrets, non-competes, and data theft cases, working with a diverse roster of multinationals. The Chicago-based Michael Wexler is noted for his expertise in high-tech matters, including electric vehicles and remote storage facilities. Los Angeles-based associate Joshua Salinas is recommended for his experience in trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition, and patent infringement. Scott Humphrey has left the practice.

Greenberg Traurig LLP‘s sizeable team works collaboratively across multiple national offices on the full gamut of trade secret matters, including litigations, audits, and restrictive covenant enforcement actions. Helmed by joint practice heads Kurt A. Kappes, Naomi Beer, and James N. Boudreau, the group is regularly engaged by a diverse clientele active in tech, energy, internet, manufacturing, life sciences, consumer goods, and financial services. Sacramento-based Kappes is a seasoned trial lawyer with experience in class actions, commercial claims, and non-competes. The Denver-based Beer and the Philadelphia-based Boudreau specialize in employment litigation matters, while Shira Yoshor , who works between the firm’s Houston and Philadelphia offices, also focuses on restrictive covenant claims. In San Francisco, David Bloch litigates patent infringement, trademark, and trade secrets cases, with recent highlights in the software and consumer goods sectors. Jason Burns joined the New York office in July 2021 from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.

Jones Day offers a versatile, cross-departmental trade secrets team that regularly handles high-profile and often multi-jurisdictional disputes for a varied roster of blue-chip corporate clients. San Diego-based Randall Kay is a highly experienced litigator and advisor within the trade secret space, whose recent engagements include proceedings for clients in telecoms, semiconductor manufacturing, healthcare, and solar power generation. Los Angeles-based IP trial lawyer Andrea Jeffries is especially noted for her knowledge and reputation in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and software. Steven Zadravecz focuses on trade secret and employment litigations from the firm’s Irvine office, while Houston-based Joshua Fuchs is also recommended for his broad sector focus, including energy trading and consumer goods manufacturing.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s interdisciplinary trade secrets litigation team routinely represents leading multinationals and tech companies in cases regarding restrictive covenants, trade secret misappropriations, and contract violations. The Silicon-Valley based Amy Van Zandt is roundly praised by clients for her advisory capabilities and reputation in litigious proceedings, most notably in the courts of northern California. The New York-based James McQuade is well versed in various trade secret and non-compete cases, most recently for clients in the software and insurance sectors. San Francisco-based Catherine Lui frequently handles trade secret cases with parallel criminal proceedings, while the Orange County-based Glenn Dassoff is a prolific advocate in the high-tech arena. Boston-based Sheryl Garko is a seasoned IP litigator whose recent engagements include trade secret misappropriation suits in the software space. Robert Shwarts is also recommended. Michael Weil has left the firm.

Roundly praised by clients for their multidisciplinary capabilities in complex IP litigations, the ‘excellent’ Paul Hastings LLP is regularly engaged on plaintiff and defendant-side mandates, representing some of the world’s leading corporations, hedge funds, and private equity firms in a wide variety of contentious proceedings. The team is jointly helmed by the New York-based global trade secrets chair Victoria Cundiff and the Los Angeles-based Jennifer Baldocchi, who runs the international employee mobility and trade secrets practice. In recent months, Baldocchi acted for biotech and pharmaceutical companies in claims before the federal courts, while Yar Chaikovsky – who works in Palo Alto – handled trade secret and IP disputes for clients in digital video technology, social media, and online banking. In Washington DC, the highly experienced Jeff Pade and Allan Soobert focus on civil and criminal litigations for a varied roster of tech players. Chicago-based Mark Pollack is recommended for his proficiency in white-collar disputes.

Praised by clients for their ‘incredibly strong’ performance in high-stakes cases, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP combines expertise from the firm’s employment, technology, IP, and litigation teams to advise on the full range of trade secret matters. In New York, John Barry – a September 2021 from Proskauer Rose LLP – is noted for his capabilities in the private equity and financial services sectors, representing data analytics companies and multinational tech entities in restrictive covenant disputes and misappropriation claims. Also in New York, first-chair trial lawyer Gary Friedman handles trade secrets litigation proceedings across the nation, most recently in the insurance and software sectors, while Nicholas Pappas is recommended for his capabilities in employment disputes at the state and federal level. In Boston, the ‘superb‘  Patrick O’Toole frequently works with various corporate clients and private equity firms on trade secret matters arising from transactions. The Silicon Valley-based Bambo Obaro heads up the firm’s trade secrets taskforce, variously advising clients on non-compete agreements and litigating in state and federal courts.

Baker & Hostetler LLP’s cross-practice trade secrets team is a regular port of call for a diverse array of major corporates and regional businesses from the worlds of TMT, life sciences, energy, and manufacturing. Orlando-based co-chair Joyce Ackerbaum Cox handles both advisory and litigious matters, assisting clients with employee movement issues, non-compete strategies, and restrictive covenant claims before the federal courts. In New York, co-head John Siegal’s diverse contentious practice sees him handling trade secret injunction cases for various financial services, media, and real estate industry players in courts throughout the nation. Houston-based Mark Temple is reputed for his capabilities in executive disputes, while Scott McIntyre maintains an active trial and appellate practice based out of the firm’s Cincinnati office.

Beck Reed Riden LLP is widely acclaimed for its litigious and advisory acumen, working with both public sector bodies and blue-chip multinationals from the worlds of consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, tech, logistics, and private equity. Practice head Russell Beck is highly rated for the depth of his trade secrets and non-compete expertise, balancing both legislative and commercial mandates. Stephen Riden routinely litigates trade secrets cases at the state and federal courts, with recent highlights including misappropriation claims in the financial sector. Nicole Daly and senior counsel Hannah Joseph are also recommended. All named lawyers are based in Boston.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP works with a number of market-leading corporates across the life sciences, pharmaceutical, tech, and TMT sectors on the full gamut of trade secret allegations and claims. Los Angeles-based practice chair Ilissa Samplin represents various individuals and companies from the worlds of media, entertainment, and technology, with recent highlights including defense-side misappropriation cases. Dallas-based Mark Reiter is recommended for his far-reaching expertise in healthcare and life science technology.

Goodwin’s trade secret, employee mobility, and non-competes group represents a broad cross-section of employers and employees in high-stakes litigious actions. In addition to its wide-ranging tech sector practice, the team is also capable in proceedings related to education, health, financial services, and consumer goods. In San Francisco, Koray Bulut is an experienced litigator at both the state and federal courts representing both startups and established companies, while trial counsel Brett Schuman ’s recent engagements include bet-the-company cases for major software developers. In Silicon Valley, Neel Chatterjee is reputed for his focus on entrepreneurs and disruptive tech companies, handling litigations in a number of court settings, while Andrew Ong’s broad experience in tech matters encompasses network devices and semiconductors.

Highlighted for its interdisciplinary approach, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP draws on its employment, cybercrime, and unfair competition teams to advise on a host of trade secrets matters at the state and federal level. In Century City, the highly experienced employment and trade secret specialist Debra Fisher routinely handles cases arising out of employee mobility issues, with recent highlights including contract breach cases in the insurance sector. Also in Century City, trade secrets working group head Seth Gerber enjoys a stellar reputation in the space for his work as a trial lawyer, prosecuting and defending claims for misappropriation and mass raid cases. The ‘outstanding‘ Boston-based Joshua Dalton works with an array of technology entities on IP development, protection, and licensing issues.

With offices on both coasts, including the capital, Morrison Foerster‘s trade secrets group is well place to litigate numerous high-profile cases for an impressive roster of blue-chip clients. In Palo Alto, first-chair trial lawyer Bryan Wilson represents a number of clients from the life sciences, healthcare, and semiconductor sectors, while Kenneth Kuwayti is noted for his expertise in a range of tech sector litigations and arbitrations, both at home and abroad. In the San Francisco office, Michael Jacobs is entrusted with major cases for some of the largest media and ride-sharing corporations in the world. Also in Palo Alto senior associate James Hancock is also recommended.

Nixon Peabody LLP’s cross-disciplinary trade secrets practice regularly litigates cases in district courts across the nation, representing both companies and individuals from the worlds of telecoms, computer hardware, digital infrastructure, and consumer technology. Other strengths of the practice include misappropriation and breach of contract matters in the biopharmaceutical sector, and class action suits and parallel government enforcement proceedings for healthcare providers and financial services companies. Boston-based practice co-head Matthew McLaughlin regularly works with clients seeking preliminary injunctions and other interim relief measures, while Daniel Schwartz is a key name in the Chicago office.

Ropes & Gray LLP‘s cross-departmental team regularly litigates cases in state and federal courts across the country, working with an assortment of clients from the fields of med-tech and biotechnology, healthcare, and software. Washington DC-based Peter Brody handles various trade secrets disputes, with recent highlights including arbitral victories for clients in the semiconductor and renewable energy sectors. In Silicon Valley, IP litigation chair Andrew Thomases is additionally reputed for his wide-ranging capabilities in the technology sector, ranging from semiconductors to streaming platforms.  David Chun appears before district and appellate courts on the full spectrum of technology trade secret cases. Boston-based Doug Brayley advises employers on issues arising from non-compete clauses and breach of contract.

The ‘knowledgeable, experienced, and detail-oriented’ practice at Winston & Strawn LLP works collaboratively across multiple offices on cases concerning trade secrets,  breach of contracts, non-competes, and other restrictive covenants. In Texas, Houston-based co-head John Keville and Sheryl Falk are noted for their respective expertise in mechanical engineering and computer forensics, while Dallas-based Tom Melsheimer is a seasoned trial lawyer with considerable experience in intellectual property, business torts, and False Claims Act litigation. Practice co-head David Enzminger , who regularly represents clients in the telecommunications, computer hardware and software, and manufacturing sectors, works primarily out of the firm’s Los Angeles office. Chicago-based internal investigation specialist Steven Grimes is also recommended.

Baker Botts L.L.P.’s interdepartmental team is noted for the scope of its technical expertise, advising on trade secrets cases in a range of IP-intensive industries, including software, semiconductors, energy, and defense contracting. The team possesses an especially robust presence in Texas: Dallas-based practice chair David Wille routinely handles IP litigation and appellate work, particularly in the licensing space. In Houston, trial lawyer Danny David is a key contact for clients seeking assistance in securities and shareholder cases, while Paul Morico’s recent IP litigation engagements include multiple oil and gas sector lawsuits. Washington DC-based Katharine Burke is recommended for her broad technology and telecoms focused practice. Theodore Chandler is an experienced litigator in federal court and at the ITC, based out of San Francisco.

Routinely engaged by corporate clients in software, manufacturing, and financial services, Brown Rudnick LLP’s IP litigation-focused practice is well-versed in the full range of court proceedings and pre-litigation strategy. Newly appointed chair Ian DiBernardo – a March 2021 arrival from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP – also serves as head of the firm’s domestic tech practice, while Jason Sobel’s recent engagements include high-value trade secret cases and licensing disputes in the utilities and professional services sectors. Counsel Kenneth Stein is also recommended. All named lawyers are based in New York unless noted otherwise.

Working collaboratively between departments, Cooley LLP litigates trade secrets cases for a diverse roster of technology and life sciences companies across the fields of ecommerce, automotive manufacturing, nutrition, and agri-tech. In New York, seasoned commercial litigator Ian Shapiro is noted for his versatile practice, while Joseph Drayton is a first-chair trial lawyer whose litigious experience encompasses internet, software, and communications sector matters. In Boston, Michael Sheetz and Adam Gershenson are both recommended for their track record representing various tech and life sciences companies. Based in San Diego, litigation chair Michael Attanasio defends businesses in bet-the-company disputes.

McGuireWoods LLP’s multidisciplinary trade secrets team is regularly engaged by a strong mix of well-known corporate clients from the worlds of technology, telecoms, healthcare, energy, and financial services. In the Richmond office, practice chair David Finkelson is highly rated for his capabilities in the telecoms and wireless technology space, while Rodney Satterwhite litigates numerous claims in the state, federal and administrative courts, focusing on executive level disputes regarding misappropriation and IP theft. Also in Richmond, Brian Riopelle is a seasoned lead trial lawyer who represents some of the largest industrial manufacturers in the market. Houston-based Yasser Madriz and Meghaan Madriz are recommended for their capabilities in technology and employment-related matters, respectively.

Based in Washington DC, Williams & Connolly LLP handles the full scope of trade secrets and restrictive covenants related cases, representing a range of financial institutions and multinational corporations from the fields of aerospace, defense, and medical device manufacturing. Daniel Shanahan handles both civil and criminal litigations for clients in trial and appellate courtrooms across the country, while Bryan Wilson‘s wide-ranging sector focus notably includes arbitral hearings and trials for multiple medical device manufacturers. David Riskin’s recent highlights include high-value appeals before the Delaware Supreme Court and cases in the health and life sciences arenas.