Trade Secrets Lawyer
We Safeguard Your Ideas and Assets From Theft and Misappropriation
It can be crushing when someone steals or uses your intellectual property, invention, or valuable information without your consent. Doing so destroys your competitive advantage, hurts your reputation, tarnishes your brand, and, worse, diminishes your revenue. It leaves you feeling betrayed and uncertain about the future of your company.
You need a trade secret attorney who can protect your ideas and assets. A trust trade secret lawyer gives you leverage to prevent theft or take swift legal action to prevent further damage.
Dhillon Law Group works with innovators, entrepreneurs, and corporations to develop trade secret strategies and policies that protect an entity’s most valuable assets. We provide valuable business law legal services such as drafting documents, developing policies and training programs, conducting audits, and representing clients in complex disputes. Our services are designed to protect your trade secrets at all times.
Fill out our online form or contact Dhillon Law Group for confidential, no-obligation legal advice from a trusted trade secrets lawyer.
What Is a Trade Secret?
A trade secret is confidential information that gives your business a competitive advantage.
You must take reasonable steps to keep it secret. Trade secrets can include formulas, processes, or methods that aren’t publicly known. They provide economic value because they’re not easily discoverable by others.
Examples of trade secrets include:
- Manufacturing processes
- Customer lists
- Pricing strategies
- Software algorithms
- Chemical formulas
- Marketing plans
Unlike patents, trade secrets don’t expire as long as they remain secret. However, if the information becomes public, you lose protection. Use non-disclosure agreements to protect your trade secrets and limit access to the information. Take legal action if someone misappropriates your trade secret.
Consult an experienced trade secret lawyer at Dhillon Law Group to safeguard your trade secrets. We’re here to help your business succeed and overcome theft and misappropriation.
Know Your Federal Trade Secret Laws
The first step in protecting your company’s assets and information is to know the law. The Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) of 2016 created a federal civil cause of action for misappropriation, allowing trade secret owners to sue in federal court.
It provides remedies, including injunctive relief, damages, and, in extraordinary circumstances, ex parte seizure of property to prevent dissemination of trade secrets. While the DTSA does not preempt state trade secret laws, it offers uniform protection across the United States and includes provisions for whistleblower immunity and notice requirements for employers.
Trade Secrets Cases Our Attorneys Handle
Our attorneys have extensive experience in trade secret, trademark, patent, and copyright matters from our long history of working with many businesses nationwide, including technology companies and Silicon Valley mainstays. We represent both businesses and individuals, and our thorough and skilled legal team is prepared to answer your business and legal questions about trade secrets.
Many of the cases we take on include:
- Employee misappropriation
- Breach of NDA
- Customer lists or sales data
- Theft of source code/algorithms
- Misappropriation of research
- Corporate espionage and theft
- Non-compete clause violations
- Misuse of proprietary property
- Sensitive information disclosure
- Unauthorized design/spec use
Trade Secrets
We protect valuable confidential information from theft or unauthorized use. Our team handles cases involving stolen formulas, customer lists, and proprietary processes. We pursue legal action against employees, competitors, or others who misappropriate your trade secrets. Our strategies include securing injunctions and seeking damages to safeguard your competitive edge in the market.
Trademarks
Our legal team helps you establish and defend your brand identity. Our services cover trademark registration, infringement cases, and licensing agreements. We fight against unauthorized use of your logos, slogans, or brand names. Our team also assists with trademark searches to ensure your chosen mark is available for use and registration.
Patents
We secure and protect your inventions through the patent process. Our expertise covers utility, design, and plant patents across various industries. We handle patent applications, infringement cases, and licensing agreements. We also conduct patent searches to determine the novelty of your invention and its patentability.
Copyrights
Our law firm safeguards your original creative works from unauthorized use or reproduction. Our copyright legal services include copyright registration, infringement cases, and licensing agreements. We protect various works, including literature, music, art, and software. Our team handles fair use disputes and assists with copyright transfers and assignments.
How to Get Started With Your Trade Secrets Case
If you suspect theft or misappropriation of confidential information in your company, take immediate action. The longer you wait, the more difficult it becomes to establish your claim. Here are some quick steps to getting started with your trade secrets case:
- Document the incident(s): Gather evidence, including documents, video/audio footage, witnesses, dates, parties involved, and compromised information. The more information you gather, the easier it is to prove your case.
- Contact a trade secrets attorney: Contact Dhillon Law Group to discuss your case. We can guide you through filing a claim and pursuing compensation from or reaching a settlement with the at-fault party.
- Conduct an internal investigation: Work with your attorney to assess the extent of the breach. This may form the basis of estimated total damages to your company. Once you know the damage, you can discuss your legal options with your trade secret lawyer.
- Prevent further incidents: Take decisive action and measures to prevent further asset or information disclosure. Your attorney can file an injunction against the at-fault party to stop using or sharing your trade secrets.
John-Paul S. Deol
John-Paul S. Deol is a partner and the head of the Firm’s nationwide Employment Law Practice Group. He handles high-profile, high-stakes matters for some of the world’s best-known C-level executives, directors, EVPs, VPs, investment and law firm partners, founders, entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, and other prominent leaders in their respective fields. His clients have been employed by many of the largest and most notable public and private companies in the technology, finance, private equity, venture capital, life sciences, legal, and healthcare sectors, among others. He has significant experience dealing with highly sensitive, high-pressure employment situations, including disputes that have garnered or could garner media attention in the future. His cases routinely involve issues relating to discrimination, retaliation, harassment, trade secrets, employee mobility, and compensation/ownership disputes. John-Paul also provides advice, counseling, and agreement drafting services to both employees and employers.
Contact Us for an Initial Case Review
Dhillon Law Group is an elite law firm that handles complex employment cases, including protecting intellectual property. We have law firms in California, New Jersey, Florida, and Virginia. If you suspect theft of your company’s trade secrets or confidential information, we invite you to contact us today and tell us more about your case.
Fill out our online form or call Dhillon Law Group for an initial case review from an experienced employment lawyer.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Trade Secrets Legal Cases
How do I prove something is a trade secret?
Show that the information is not public knowledge. Demonstrate its economic value to your business. Prove you’ve taken reasonable measures to keep it secret. Provide evidence of its development and use in your company. Show how it gives you an advantage over competitors.
How long does trade secret protection last?
Trade secret protection lasts as long as the information remains secret. There’s no expiration date like patents. You can maintain protection indefinitely if you keep the information confidential. However, protection ends if the secret becomes public knowledge through legal means.
What is trade secret misappropriation?
Misappropriation occurs when someone steals, uses, or discloses your trade secret without permission. It can happen through theft, bribery, or breach of confidentiality. Using information obtained through improper means is also misappropriation. Even accidental disclosure can lead to misappropriation claims.
What damages can I recover in a trade secret case?
You can recover actual losses from the misappropriation. Courts may award unjust enrichment damages or reasonable royalties. In cases of willful misappropriation, you might receive punitive damages. Attorney fees may be awarded in exceptional cases.
How do courts keep trade secrets confidential during litigation?
Courts use protective orders to limit access to sensitive information. They may seal certain documents or hold closed hearings. Confidentiality agreements bind parties and witnesses. Courts can redact public records. In extreme cases, they might exclude the public from proceedings.
How is a trade secret different from a patent?
Patents require public disclosure in exchange for temporary monopoly rights. Trade secrets rely on continued secrecy. Patents have a limited lifespan, while trade secrets can last indefinitely. Trade secrets offer immediate protection without registration. Patents provide stronger exclusivity rights.
Can employees be sued for trade secret misappropriation?
Yes, employees can be sued for misappropriating trade secrets. This often happens when they leave for a competitor. Courts consider factors like employment agreements and the nature of the information. Employers must prove the employee improperly used or disclosed the secret.
What is the inevitable disclosure doctrine?
This doctrine allows courts to prevent former employees from working for competitors. It assumes they’ll inevitably use or disclose trade secrets in their new job. Not all states recognize this doctrine. Courts apply it cautiously to balance employee rights and trade secret protection.
How do non-disclosure agreements protect trade secrets?
Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) create a legal obligation to keep information confidential. They define what’s considered secret. NDAs specify how the information can be used. They set consequences for unauthorized disclosure. These agreements strengthen your claim in misappropriation cases.
What is the statute of limitations for trade secret cases?
The statute of limitations varies by jurisdiction. Under federal law, it’s three years from discovering the misappropriation. Many states also have a three-year limit. Some allow up to five years. The clock starts when you discover or should have discovered the misappropriation.