The group at Jones Day is well placed to handle the gamut of trade secret matters for various clients in national as well as international contexts, covering jurisdictions from Australia, to Europe, to China. The team’s workload includes representing companies in claims regarding the hiring of employees and trade secret misappropriation therein; acting for clients in litigation where trade secrets have been improperly accessed; and handling matters of trade dress and copyright infringement. Its client list spans sectors from tech and pharmaceuticals to aerospace and engineering, and the team handles arbitrations, trials and appeals. Randall Kay oversees the practice from San Diego and is vastly experienced in trade secrets litigation, particularly in global contexts. Also on the West Coast, Los Angeles-based Andrea Jeffries is adept at representing defendants and plaintiffs in the array of complex disputes. Cary Sullivan and Steven Zadravecz are both names to note in the Irvine office. In Washington DC, Michael Oblon counsels and litigates on behalf of electronics and software tech clients, in particular.

The team at Kirkland & Ellis LLP regularly assists clients in complex trade secret matters, a noteworthy example being its continued representation of Motorola Solutions Inc. in the ongoing, cross-jurisdictional and high-value case regarding trademark, copyright and trade secret infringement. On the West Coast, Adam Alper works from San Francisco and has expertise handling multifaceted disputes involving patent, trade secret and copyright violations in industry sectors ranging from telecoms to pharmaceuticals. The San Francisco office was bolstered in August 2024 by the arrival of Laura Vartain Horn. Michael De Vries is a key name in Los Angeles who specializes in trials regarding the misuse of trade secrets. Key attorneys on the East Coast are Dale Cendali, Leslie Schmidt and Joshua Simmons in New York. Cendali has handled trade secrets disputes up to US Supreme Court level and Simmons is also a noteworthy litigator, particularly in the media and tech sectors, among others, while Schmidt has experience handling cases with international scope. In the same office, Claudia Ray offers pre-litigation advice across the range of IP work.

Latham & Watkins LLP‘s workload includes handling high-stakes disputes for well-known names across a range of industries, from tech to pharma. Trade secrets litigator Douglas Lumish handles cross-border disputes from the San Francisco office. In San Diego, Jennifer Barry assists with both counseling and litigious matters. Chicago’s Matthew Walch handles some of the team’s most prominent cases, including representing Shenzhen Senior Technology in a near billion-dollar global IP dispute. Jeff Homrig works from Austin and has particular expertise in the tech and life sciences sectors. On the East Coast, Tony Sammi ’embodies everything a client wants to see in a lawyer’ and Rachel Renee Blitzer is noted for her capabilities in both litigation and the due diligence aspects of IP. David Frazier is based in Washington DC and oversees the national offering alongside Barry and Homrig.

Comprised of ‘outstanding IP litigators’ , the group at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is well placed to handle complex trade secret disputes in both prosecution and defense contexts. The team also harnesses capabilities representing clients in non-compete disputes. Its client list contains well-known names across various industry sectors from HSBC to Uber. Entertainment and tech are the particular areas of specialism of experienced litigator Ilissa Samplin who oversees the offering from LA. At the same office, Blaine Evanson is experienced in litigation up to Supreme Court level, and L. Kieran Kieckhefer has handled copyright, employment contract breach, patent and trade secret disputes. The team also has a presence in New York, where trial attorney Orin Snyder is a standout name, and in Dallas, where Christine Demana  is the practitioner to note.

Noted for its ‘proactivity and creativity’, Goodwin assists its roster of clients in the remit of litigious trade secret cases, including those involving copyright infringement, unfair competition and high-profile misappropriations, in both domestic and international contexts. Co-leads of the practice are San Francisco’s Brett Schuman, who is well placed to represent well-known tech clients in complex disputes, and Boston-based Elaine Blais. Further key names on the West Coast are San Francisco’s Jeremy Lateiner and Koray Bulut who has expertise in employee mobility and non-compete matters as well as Silicon Valley’s Neel Chatterjee who has multi-jurisdictional experience and Andrew Ong who acts before the Federal courts and the USPTO. On the East Coast, Boston-based Robert Carroll has a life sciences and tech specialism, while Amadou Kilkenny Diaw in Washington DC has patent and trade secret litigation expertise. John Padro is also a key practitioner in New York.

Greenberg Traurig LLP‘s group is well placed to assist its clientele in complex matters including disputes regarding trade secret misappropriations and employment contract breaches. In addition to its litigious capabilities, the team assists clients with such issues as the drafting and enforcing of non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, and advises on transactional and due diligence aspects of trade secrets, enforceability and risk avoidance. The team is co-led by Kurt Kappes, who splits his time between Sacramento and San Francisco, Naomi Beer, an experienced litigator based in Denver. David Bloch is based in San Francisco and leads on matters involving trade secret theft, improper hiring and business torts, among other issues; Los Angeles-based Jordan Grotzinger is described by clients as ‘a true subject matter expert’; and Boston’s Gregory Bombard is equipped to represent clients across the pharmaceutical, tech and manufacturing sectors in State and Federal courts and in arbitration proceedings.

Paul Hastings LLP works with a diverse portfolio of clients on a wide range of high-stakes trade secret cases, including wrongful disclosure of copyrighted information to third parties, AI software theft, patent infringement cases, and commercial disputes. The group’s workload frequently covers multi-jurisdictional matters at the highest court levels, spanning a range of sectors from life sciences, to tech, to consumer goods. The team is headed up by Washington DC-based Naveen Modi, alongside New York-based Bruce Wexler and Eric Dittmann, the three of whom also serve as joint heads of the firm’s global IP practice. Key practitioner Jeff Pade is based in DC also and draws on more than 25 years of experience representing parties in litigation and arbitration, particularly in providing pre-litigation counseling and advice in internal trade secret investigations.

The ‘dedicated’ group at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP is experienced in handling copyright and trademark infringement, false advertising, cybersquatting, defamation, and misappropriation matters, among others. The team is co-headed from New York by Rachel Epstein, who is experienced acting as counsel for plaintiffs and defendants at trials and arbitrations, and Todd Anten, who has expertise handling the remit of trademark, copyright, and trade secrets disputes. On the West Coast, Los Angeles’ Michael Zeller is a renowned IP litigator, while Silicon Valley’s Rachel Herrick Kassabian has a particular specialism representing clients in internet sector businesses and tech start-ups, including various well-known names. Los Angeles-based AI specialist Yury Kapgan has represented clients in employee mobility and misappropriation matters, among others.

The team at Seyfarth Shaw LLP is well regarded by its clients for its ‘exceptional expertise and collaboration’, advising widely on matters concerning mass data theft, breaches of contract, computer fraud, workforce raiding, destruction of evidence, and complex trade secret misappropriation. The practice is jointly led by three partners: experienced Chicago-based trial attorney Michael Wexler and Los Angeles-based Robert Milligan both handle non-compete, computer fraud, and trade secret matters, as does the Boston-based Katherine Perrelli. Also in Boston, Dawn Mertineit is well equipped to assist clients across a range of industries with the remit of complex commercial disputes. Jesse Coleman is a key practitioner in Houston with a track record of litigating across the energy, telecoms, hospitality, and healthcare sectors. Advising on reputational risk relating to restrictive covenants and trade secrets forms a key portion of New York’s Gary Friedman‘s workload. Daniel Joshua Salinas is also a key name in Los Angeles.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP‘s practice is known for its capabilities representing clients in trade secrets and restrictive covenant arbitrations and litigations in both domestic and cross-jurisdictional contexts. Its workload includes high-value disputes arising from the departures of key employees, issues arising from breaches of contract, and related conspiracies. The team’s client list comprises various well-known names spanning a range of industries.  Labor and employment-focused attorney John Barry works from the New York hub alongside Celine Chan. Highly experienced commercial litigator Bambo Obaro is based in Silicon Valley, while key names to note in Boston include Peter Mee and Rebecca Sivitz, noted for their experience handling mission-critical restrictive covenant cases. David Lender is another key commercial litigator based at the New York office.

Experienced in high-value disputes before various courts, the group at BakerHostetler regularly assists clients operating across a range of sectors in matters concerning trade secret misappropriation and high-profile breaches of employment contracts relating to non-compete restrictions. Amy Traub, who has noteworthy expertise in labor and employment, co-leads the team from New York alongside John Siegal, and Joyce Ackerbaum Cox, who is based in Orlando. The New York team was bolstered in January 2024 by the arrival of Daryl Leon.

The Boston-based boutique Beck Reed Riden LLP is praised for its ‘excellent advisors and litigators’, with capabilities across the gamut of trade secret and non-compete cases, working with many longstanding clients on day-to-day trade secret issues in employment contexts. Practice head Russell Beck is considered ‘one of the nation’s foremost experts on trade secret law’. Further notable members of the group include ‘dedicated litigator’ Stephen Riden, who regularly represents corporate and individual clients in related commercial disputes at the State and Federal court levels. Nicole Corvini Daly is equipped to assist clients with issues ranging from business and trade secret-related disputes, to those involving restrictive covenants and employee mobility. Sarah Tishler is also a key name to note.

Cooley LLP‘s regular workload includes representing clients in the range of high-value trade secret theft matters, including those that impact the completion of significant transactions. The practice is jointly headed up by Washington DC-based Stephen Smith, noted for his trial experience, alongside Boston-based Adam Gershenson, who has a strong track record of handling cases before the Supreme Court, and Michael Sheetz, who boasts a specialty in tech and life sciences work. Gershenson's noteworthy highlights include representing Pie Insurance on the first appellate ruling to address what constitutes the ‘reasonable measures’ that must be taken to protect a trade secret per the DTSA 2016. Heidi Keefe in Palo Alto is noted for her standout tech expertise.

Noted for its capabilities in tech and software work, the practice at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is well equipped to assist its clients in the broad array of trade secret counseling matters and disputes, including those at both the State and Federal court levels. In Philadelphia, central figures include IP expert Louis Beardell, and Julie Goldemberg, who has experience representing clients in patent, trademark, and trade secret cases. Natalie Bennett in Washington DC has noteworthy abilities in handling complex disputes before the Federal courts. In Century City, Seth Gerber is a standout attorney with capabilities in restrictive covenant, employee mobility, and trade secret cases, and at the same office, Debra Fischer defends high-stakes, complex trade secret disputes. In Silicon Valley, Dion Bregman is the key name to note. Beardell, Goldemberg, Gerber, and Bregman co-head the offering.

Winston & Strawn LLP‘s team is known for its abilities in handling various stages of trade secret matters, from the investigation portion involving the running of audits and assessments to the litigation stage. The practice is headed up by several specialists: experienced trial attorney John Sanders focuses on business litigation and class actions and commercial litigator Natalie Arbaugh, both of whom are based in Dallas; Chicago-based Steve Grimes; and Los Angeles-based David Enzminger, who is particularly noted for his expertise representing clients in the telecoms, computer hardware, and software sectors. LA-based Bobby Malhotra is recommended for his specialty in AI and its potential impacts.

The group at ArentFox Schiff handles trade secret, employee mobility and non-compete cases. Boston-based Linda Jackson represents a diverse array of clients in employment and commercial disputes. Los Angeles-based Allan Anderson‘s key sectors include entertainment, internet, and tech. Washington DC-based Nicholas Nesgos is noted for his expertise in shareholder and partner-related employment disputes.  Boston-based Lauren Schaefer has significant litigation experience. Chicago-based Matthew Prewitt and New York-based patent specialist Alexander Spiegler are also key practitioners.

The offering at Baker Botts L.L.P. is well regarded for its abilities to assist its varied client roster in both contentious and non-contentious work, covering trade secret theft, and employment-related disputes in particular, including contract breaches. Dallas-based Christa Sanford co-runs the practice alongside IP and tech specialist David Wille at the same office, while other co-heads are New York-based Jennifer Tempesta, and Cheryl Cauley, who works from the Palo Alto office. Cauley and Wille also co-lead the firmwide trade secret group. Scott Nelson and Liz Flannery are key names to note at the firm’s Houston hub, while Katharine Burke stands out in the Washington DC office.

The ‘incredibly gifted group of lawyers’ at Brown Rudnick LLP handle a varied workload, including negotiations relating to trademark and trade secret licensing and disputes, and advising clients on portfolio management and brand strategy. The team is headed up by New York-based tech specialist Ian DiBernardo, Washington DC-based Peter Willsey, and Adam Schoen, who works from the Boston hub. Also in New York, Merri Moken—praised by clients for her 'extremely impressive' litigation capabilities—covers the biotech, regenerative medicine, chemical, and pharmaceutical sectors, among others. Jason Sobel is another name to note in the New York office.

The Boston-based practice at Choate, Hall & Stewart is noted for its track record in IP litigation, representing clients in trade secret disputes between corporations, as well as those directly involving employees. The firm also provides risk assessments to its clients in order to aid them in the prevention of trade secret-related issues. The group is co-led by Eric Marandett, noted for his biotech and pharma focus; experienced litigator Paul Popeo; and life sciences and tech specialist Anita Spieth.

The practice at DLA Piper LLP (US) is ‘exceptionally business-minded’ and is well equipped to represent its well-known, sector-spanning clients in trade secret litigation. The team is helmed by a host of practitioners, namely experienced trial attorneys Paul Steadman and Matthew Satchwell who both work in Chicago; commercial disputes practitioners Leon Medzhibovsky and Tamar Duvdevani who are based in the New York hub, Washington DC-based Sean Cunningham and San Francisco-based Gina Durham. Former co-head Rajiv Dharnidharka left the team in September 2024 along with Jeanette Barzelay.

The team at McGuireWoods LLP represents a broad roster of clients in complex trade secret misappropriation cases, including high-value appeals. Beyond its litigation capabilities, the team strategizes and advises on related audit, compliance, and investigations. The group is co-headed by David Finkelson in Richmond, and Houston-based Yasser Madriz, who has experience handling Federal and State court matters as well as arbitrations. Also in Houston, Meghaan Madriz is noted for her labor and employment expertise. Miles Indest—a key name in Houston—was promoted to partner in January 2025.

Noted y clients for its ‘solid experience in the courtroom’, Sidley Austin LLP represents a wide-ranging roster of clients—spanning professional services, life sciences, and medical devices—in IP litigation, including in complex trade secret matters. The team is headed up by several experienced litigators: Dallas-based ‘seasoned courtroom lawyer’ Aimee Fagan; New York-based Ching-Lee Fukuda ; Chicago-based Stephanie Koh; Jeffrey Kushan, who works from Washington DC, and San Francisco-based Irene Yang.

Steptoe LLP is experienced in representing its portfolio of well-known clients in complex cases of trade secret misappropriation and contract breach, in both domestic and cross-jurisdictional contexts. The cases the team works on span a range of sectors, from energy, to fashion, to real estate. The team is jointly headed up by three partners all equipped to handle the range of contentious and non-contentious trade secret matters: John Caracappa, Jay Nuttall and Boyd Cloern . Caracappa and Cloern work from the Washington DC office, while Nuttall is based in Chicago. Leah Quadrino is another key practitioner in DC, with broad IP expertise and experience advising in various sectors.

The Washington DC-based group at Williams & Connolly LLP routinely advises on restrictive covenants, unfair competition, and other trade secret matters, working with a diverse client base ranging from biotech to software. The team is led by the ‘brilliant lawyer’ Bryan Wilson, who is experienced in representing plaintiffs and defendants in all manner of commercial disputes. Experienced litigator Daniel Shanahan co-heads the practice.