Crowell & Moring LLP successfully acts as both plaintiff and defence counsel in trade secrets misappropriation and theft disputes, under the leadership of bet-the-company litigator Mark Klapow in Washington, DC, and seasoned trial attorney Valerie Goo in Los Angeles.

King & Spalding presents a litigation practice with standout expertise in trade secrets misappropriation and theft disputes, steered by Neel Chatterjee in Silicon Valley, who transferred from Goodwin in July 2025. Andrew Ong also joined the San Francisco team from Goodwin in August 2025.

The members of Kirkland & Ellis LLP’s trade secrets practice are regularly engaged by various industry leaders in high-profile litigation, praised for ‘their ability to take ultra-complex tech concepts and distill them for judges or a jury’. Acting as both plaintiff and defense counsel, the team handles a great amount of competitor disputes, often involving business-critical elements and large monetary claims. ‘Exceptional’ attorneys Adam Alper in San Francisco and Michael De Vries, based in Los Angeles, stand out for their extensive experience in litigating theft of trade secrets issues and obtaining million-dollar damages. New York’s Dale Cendali and Leslie Schmidt leverage patent and trademark law expertise; in the same office, Joshua Simmons is recommended for injunctive orders; Sharre Lotfollahi in LA is skilled in restraining orders; Christopher Lawless, also in LA, is knowledgeable in copyright matters; and Akshay Deoras operates out of the San Francisco office and is proficient in competitor-versus-competitor litigation.

The practice at Latham & Watkins represents prominent companies in complex trade secrets litigation, often involving high-stakes issues. Team  members regularly handle misappropriation of business-critical information, breach of contract, and restrictive covenants, obtaining dismissals, injunctions, and high-value damage relief. Michael Morin and David Frazier co-lead the group from Washington DC, with a great track record in high-profile mandates such as the 'Botox wars'; Charles Sanders and Patricia Young co-head from Boston and Silicon Valley, respectively.  Key members are San Diego's Jennifer Barry, whose portfolio of clients includes global industry leaders; New York-based Anthony Sammi and Rachel Renee Blitzer, highly commendable in trials; and Matthew Walch in Chicago, who also supports with trademark mandates. Jeff Homrig and Douglas Lumish departed the firm in July 2025.

Noted for combining ‘sharp litigation instincts with genuinely practical business judgment’, the trade secrets group at O'Melveny features a varied clientele with names spanning a wide range of industries and sizes, including Fortune 500 companies. The members litigate claims of theft and misappropriation of proprietary information across the United States, serving as both plaintiff and defense counsel in actions against former employees and competitors, and have a great track record in negotiating favorable settlements for their clients. The group is headed up from Los Angeles by Ryan Yagura. Standout members are David Almeling in San Francisco, whose ‘incredible trade secrets expertise’ is trusted by global industry leaders and government officials; Darin Snyder, also in San Francisco, a key contact for tech companies facing trial or appeal; and Patrick Plassio in Dallas, a ‘thorough’ and ‘pragmatic’ dispute resolution specialist.

Praised for ‘a deep bench of experienced lawyers and a strong commitment to client service’, the trade secrets practice at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP represents both start-ups and publicly traded companies in misappropriation and theft disputes. The team has a track record of successful trials and appeals, but also provides a variety of counseling services and day-to-day advice on the protection of business-critical information. The group has seen several additions in the past year: seasoned tech and life sciences litigators Jeff Homrig and Doug Lumish transferred from Latham & Watkins in July 2025 and now co-lead the group from Dallas and the Bay Area, respectively; Gabriel Gross also joined the Bay area team from Latham in July 2025, noted for his ‘excellence in litigation and arbitration’; Boston-based Adam Gershenson onboarded in Oct 2025 from Cooley LLP, noted for his ‘knowledge of the subject matter’; James Pearl joined the Los Angeles office in Sept 2025 from Paul Hastings LLP, adept at handling high monetary damage claims. John Barry co-heads the offering from New York, leveraging employment law expertise. Bambo Obaro is a key contact in the Silicon Valley office, with standout experience in tech litigation.

With a proven track record in advising on trade secrets misappropriation and theft, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP represents applicants and respondents in court disputes across a range of US litigation forums, including the ITC. The team successfully handles both competitor disputes and employee lawsuits, leveraging labor law acumen and fair competition practices expertise. The group is co-led from Los Angeles, where Ilissa Samplin is a key contact for media and tech companies, and New York, where high-stakes dispute experts Kate Dominguez, Josh Krevitt, and Jane Love jointly steer the practice. Clients can also rely on the services provided by standout members Kieran Kieckhefer in San Francisco, experienced in injunctive relief proceedings and trials; New York’s Orin Snyder, recommended for alternative dispute resolution, particularly arbitration; and Dallas-based Christine Demana, proficient in noncompete law matters.

Praised for its ability to 'interact with foreign lawyers and clients' and 'to take the lead in litigations, even when assisting the defendants', Goodwin makes a key choice for tech and life sciences companies engaged in trade secrets disputes. The team handles a great number of actions against competing businesses and departing employees, advising on confidential information misappropriation, breaches of contract, and injunctive relief. The group's leadership is split between San Francisco, where seasoned tech litigator Brett Schuman and employee mobility specialist Koray Bulut co-lead the Bay Area offering, and Boston, where Elaine Blais heads the team. Additional key players are San Francisco-based Jeremy Lateiner, recommended advisor on cutting-edge matters; Robert Carroll in Boston and Alexandra Valenti in New York, who have great track records in federal trials; and John Padro, also in New York, who leverages cybersecurity expertise.

Praised by clients for its 'strong knowledge' of trade secrets law, Greenberg Traurig supports emerging and established companies and HNW individuals in high-stakes disputes. The team handles a wide variety of claims, including misappropriation of business-critical information, employee poaching, and breaches of the Defend Trade Secrets Act. Disputes relate to lawsuits against competitors and former employees, the members combining labor and employment law with trade secrets expertise to design efficient litigation strategies. Sharing his time between the Sacramento and San Francisco offices, Kurt Kappes co-leads the offering, adding employee mobility acumen to the practice, while Naomi Beer co-heads from Denver. David Bloch, also in San Francisco, stands out for his knowledge of tech issues; Jordan Grotzinger in Los Angeles, noted for his ability to 'obtain a fair resolution'; and Boston-based Gregory Bombard, a specialist in complex commercial disputes.

Morrison Foerster has built a name in the trade secrets market by offering comprehensive advisory and litigation services to both innovative businesses and companies listed on the Fortune 500. The members are frequently entrusted with disputes against competitors and former employees, successfully defending from high-value monetary claims across various legal forums in the US. The team is co-headed from Palo Alto, where Kenneth Kuwayti has a great track record in jury verdicts and favorable settlements, and Bryan Wilson has notable skills in handling misappropriation claims. Standout practitioners include seasoned litigator Mark Whitaker, based in Washington DC; Ragesh Tangri in San Francisco, proficient in devising legal strategies for tech clients; LA-based Bita Rahebi, recommended for multijurisdictional mandates; and experienced global litigator Benjamin Fox, also based in Los Angeles. Thomas Broughan and Ching-Lee Fukuda joined the team in June 2026.

The trade secrets practitioners at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP leverage the firm’s global reach to attract a diverse clientele, ranging from emerging companies to industry leaders, with domestic and foreign names alike. Their advice spans a wide range of sectors, with particularly high levels of activity in tech and life sciences, and they frequently act in court disputes involving East Asian manufacturers. A seasoned trio leads the offering: New York-based Rachel Epstein, who has extensive experience in leading trials for both plaintiffs and defendants; Todd Anten, also in New York, recommended for injunctive relief proceedings; and Michael Zeller, who operates out of Los Angeles. Ryan Landers in LA and Kevin Reed in New York are two other key contacts, with Landers concentrating on mandates involving the misappropriation of proprietary information, and Reed leveraging his federal prosecution background to handle internal investigations and trials efficiently.

Seyfarth Shaw LLP‘s regular workload includes representing corporations and executives in litigation and arbitration relating to trade secrets misappropriation. Some of the services provided by the firm are temporary restraining order applications, unfair competition advice, and non-compete transactional support. The team successfully handles mandates involving high-value damages and cross-border elements. Heading the practice from Chicago, Michael Wexler is a specialist in cutting-edge issues and high-tech products. Dawn Mertineit, also in Boston, is a seasoned litigator; Gary Friedman in New York is an adept advisor on high-value claims; Houston-based Jesse Coleman is experienced in bet-the-company matters; and Daniel Joshua Salinas in Los Angeles provides key support. Robert Milligan retired in May 2025, Katherine Perrelli  retired in January 2026.

Featuring a team of attorneys with diverse specialisms, BakerHostetler presents a broad trade secrets service offering, which includes both preventive actions and court dispute resolution. The practice is equipped to provide end-to-end support, from IP protection strategies and advice on transactions to injunctive relief proceedings and appeals. Amy Traub and John Siegal in New York, and Joyce Ackerbaum Cox in Orlando jointly head the group, with Traub as skilled defence counsel in employee litigation, Siegal as an expert in non-compete law, and Ackerbaum Cox as a complex dispute specialist. Other key contacts are Lisa Collins in Atlanta, a highly active litigator; Scott McIntyre in Cincinnati, strong in appeals; Kevin Kirsch in Columbus, recommended for infringement suits; and Jason D’Cruz in Atlanta, proficient in lawsuits against former employees.

Noted for its capabilities in tech, life sciences, and consumer products work, the practice at Cooley LLP is geared to support clients with a broad range of trade secrets issues. The team has notable strengths in handling claims of proprietary information misappropriation and theft, RICO, and breach of contract, and successfully acts as both plaintiff and defendant counsel. At the forefront of the practice are Amanda Main in Palo Alto, experienced in restraining order proceedings; Gerard O’Shea in New York, proficient in employee raiding claims; and Stephen Smith, who is based in Washington DC. Lowell Mead, also in Palo Alto, is another name to remember, recommended for tech disputes. Adam Gershenson has left the firm.

Praised for its ‘ability to identify the importance of trade secrets’ to minimize harm, Sidley Austin LLP is repeatedly entrusted by global industry leaders with filings under both state and federal law. The team offers end-to-end support with court disputes, guiding clients from pre-litigation negotiations to trial and appeals, including in business-critical lawsuits. A seasoned trio leads the practice– Chicago-based Stephanie Koh, who has litigated a variety of technologies; Jeffrey Kushan, operating out of Washington, DC; and Irene Yang in San Francisco, who leverages extensive trial experience. Sharon Lee in New York is recommended for breach of contract issues and technical expertise. Ching-Lee Fukuda left the firm in 2026.

WilmerHale supports clients through all stages of trade secrets litigation, from discovery and collaboration with forensic experts, to appeals. The team acts as both plaintiff and defence counsel for companies across industries, particularly life sciences, FinServ, and tech, and its clientele includes Fortune 500-listed businesses. Co-leading from the East and West Coasts. Omar Khan in New York has notable skills in handling competitor disputes, and Joshua Lerner in San Francisco is recommended for restriction orders and injunctive relief proceedings. The other key members of the group are Robert Gunther in Boston, adept at trade secrets misappropriation claims; Mark Selwyn in Palo Alto, who leverages experience before the ITC; and seasoned trial attorney Joseph Mueller, also based in Boston.

With a proven track record in trade secrets protection strategies, the team at Winston Taylor advises clients from diverse industries on misappropriation risks and claims. The team regularly handles issues such as theft of proprietary information, breach of restrictive covenants, and violations of the Defend Trade Secrets Act. Danielle Williams, Nimalka Wickramasekera, and Jennifer Golinveaux jointly steer the practice, where Williams oversees the group from Charlotte; Wickramasekera, in Los Angeles, is recommended for disputes against competitors; and Golinveaux is the main contact in San Francisco. Bobby Malhotra, also in LA, and Kathi Vidal, who joined the team in Dec 2024 from the USPTO, are experts in AI-based products litigation; Dallas-based John Sanders  is proficient in non-compete agreements; Steven Grimes in Chicago leverages federal prosecution expertise.

ArentFox Schiff features a trade secrets practice able to provide diverse litigation services in disputes arising out of a breach of proprietary information, regularly handling licensing, contractor, and manufacturer disputes. The department benefits from the guidance of co-leaders Linda Jackson in Boston, Allan Anderson in Los Angeles, Washington DC-based Nicholas Nesgos, Matthew Prewitt in Chicago, and New York's Alexander Spiegler. Jackson has broad trial and injunctive relief experience; Nesgos is proficient in restrictive covenants litigation; and Prewitt leverages noncompete expertise. Eshun Forghany in San Francisco and Lauren Schaefer in Boston are both key members, recommended for advice on tech-based products and ‘subject matter expertise’, respectively.

The trade secrets practice at Baker Botts L.L.P. is a key port of call for clients seeking to avoid or defend themselves from claims of business-critical information misappropriation and theft. Alongside its advisory services for information leaks prevention, the team also supports with defence from misappropriation claims, including injunctive relief orders. Co-leading the practice is a dynamic group comprised of Christa Stanford, who conducts her activities out of Dallas; Jennifer Tempesta, based in New York; David Wille, also in Dallas, experienced in dispute resolution and appellate mandates; and Cheryl Cauley in Palo Alto. Katharine Burke in Washington, DC is also a key member of the group, recommended for tech litigation.

Drawing upon the members’ expertise in non-compete law, Boston-based firm Beck Reed Riden LLP advises companies on issues arising out of employees’ onboarding or offboarding. The team handles trade secrets protection, compliance with restrictive covenants, and misappropriation of proprietary information, noted for its ‘realistic and practical’ strategies. Russell Beck heads the practice, an expert in both state and federal trade secrets regulations, and is praised for his ‘approach to both counselling and litigation’. Clients also recommend Nicole Corvini Daly, an expert in employee mobility matters, and Sarah Tishler, able to support with all stages of a court dispute. Founding partner Stephen Riden leverages broad commercial litigation experience.

Clients entrust the practice at Brown Rudnick LLP with designing bespoke strategies for proprietary information protection, both within litigation and as a means to avoid court disputes. Some of the issues regularly handled by the team are trade secrets misappropriation, unfair competition, and restrictive covenant breaches, representing both plaintiffs and respondents. The group is lead by Ian DiBernardo in New York, who specializes in portfolio management and commercial agreements, and Adam Schoen, who co-manages the firm’s global intellectual property group from Boston. Joshua Whitehill, also in New York, is another noteworthy name, recommended for multijurisdictional mandates. Jason Sobel has left the firm.

Praised for its ‘ability to navigate sensitive cross-border issues with technical fluency and commercial pragmatism’, the trade secrets practice at DLA Piper LLP (US) has built a reputation for handling high-stakes litigation for domestic and foreign companies and executives. The team has notable experience in corporate espionage claims and high-value monetary relief, frequently aiding clients in avoiding business-critical sanctions. Leading the team, Paul Steadman in Chicago is an expert in multijurisdictional mandates; Leon Medzhibovsky in New York;  Sean Cunningham, operating out of Washington DC; Gina Durham in San Francisco; and Tamar Duvdevani, also in New York, an adept advisor on large damage claims.

With a strong focus on employee mobility, the professionals at Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. are called upon when an employee’s departure raises concerns regarding trade secrets misappropriation or theft. The team’s client portfolio spans a variety of industries, including consumer products, wealth management, and life sciences, with high levels of activity in medical devices litigation. Peter Steinmeyer co-leads the practice from Chicago, an expert in noncompete law and incident response, while Erik Weibust co-heads from Boston, leveraging longstanding litigation experience that includes monetary remedies. Daniel Levy in Newark is also a name to remember, an expert advisor on best practices of proprietary information protection.

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP focuses its services entirely on intellectual property issues, with notable experience in handling trade secrets lawsuits such as competitor disputes, litigation against regulatory bodies, and global portfolio management. Jointly heading the practice, James Barney and John Williamson in Washington, DC, where Williamson is an expert in misappropriation claims; Erik Puknys in Palo Alto is proficient in AI issues; and Erika Harmon Arner, who splits her time between Reston and DC. Karthik Kumar and Rajeev Ghupta, both in DC, are also standout members, recommended for AI-based products and global IP protection matters, respectively.

The trade secrets practitioners at Foley Hoag LLP have made a name in the market by litigating claims of misappropriation and theft of proprietary information, advising on both state and federal law issues. Acting as plaintiff and defence counsel, they frequently represent companies and executives in disputes which arise after an employee’s departure. The group operates mainly out of Boston, where Barbara Fiacco and Jeremy Younkin co-lead, with Fiacco being a key contact for life sciences clients. Other main contacts are Sarah Burg, proficient in MedTech mandates, and Robert Haney, based in New York, who leverages labor law acumen.

Kobre & Kim features a trade secrets practice dedicated entirely to litigating claims of misappropriation and theft across various forums in the US, including the ITC. The clientele includes domestic and foreign companies alike, appearing before various courts in the US, including the ITC, as both applicants and respondents; many of these mandates are disputes against competitors or former employees, and involve high-value monetary claims. Jointly steering the practice is a trio of seasoned litigators – San Francisco-based Michael Ng, recommended for his ‘skill in court as a trial attorney, particularly on cross-examination’; the ‘meticulous’ Daniel Zaheer, also in San Francisco, praised for his due diligence; and George Stamatopoulos in New York, experienced in multijurisdictional matters.

McGuireWoods LLP’s trade secrets practice supports domestic and foreign clients with their various litigation needs. Global industry leaders and HNW individuals frequently engage the team as counsel in disputes arising out of trade secrets misappropriation or out of non-compete agreements. The group is steered by Brian Riopelle in Richmond, experienced in trial advocacy; Yasser Madriz in Houston, proficient in unfair competition claims; and David Greenspan, who operates out of Washington, DC. Other key members of the practice are Meghaan Madriz in Houston and Christopher Michalik in Richmond, who leverage labor and employment expertise, along with Miles Indest, also in Houston, an expert in trade secret theft issues.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP features a trade secrets practice focused on litigating matters relating to the misappropriation or theft of critical confidential information. The team also provides dispute resolution advice regarding noncompete agreements, particularly in cases where a former employee has joined a competitor. A seasoned quartet leads the group, split between the East and the West Coasts – Amy Candido in Palo Alto, a recognized expert in federal trade secrets issues who joined the firm in Feb 2025 from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, and New York-based Jonathan Youngwood, seasoned litigator Lori Lesser, and trial specialist Lynn Neuner.

The trade secrets team at Steptoe LLP frequently engages in litigation regarding theft and misappropriation, dedicating a large portion of its time to handling both competitor and employee litigation. Acting on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants, the members boast an established clientele comprised of domestic companies and foreign manufacturers alike, and they have a great rapport with East Asian clients. Trial attorneys Boyd Cloern and Leah Quadrino co-lead the Washington DC-based practice, efficient in appeals and injunctive relief proceedings. Scott Richey is also a key member, adept at litigating technologies thanks to his technical background, while Bill Toth supplements his dispute resolution services with preventive action advice.